Regional Overview
There are over 1200 foreign owned companies in South West England. The vibrant business culture and unique environment has led to global market leaders establishing European and globally significant operations here. These include; JP Morgan Chase, Hewlett Packard, Takao, Orange, Honda, Airbus, Tripos Receptor Research, Wrigleys and Luhrs Marine.

But don't take our word for it - look at some of the facts about the region and make up your own mind.

South West England's economy was worth £58 billion in 1999, and now generates 9% of the total output in England. It is one of the UK's fastest growing regions with GDP growth outstripping the national average.
♦ Over 27% of the region's population is educated to degree standard or above, amongst the most highly qualified in the UK.
♦ Labour costs are on average 5% lower than the national average.
♦ 52% of England's population is within a two hour drive.
♦ The survival rate of businesses in the region is above the UK average.
♦ The daily commute is below the national average.
♦ Four of the region's six counties top the UK as 'the best in which to live and work.
♦ The region has a population of five million, and it has grown by over 12% in the last 10 years.
The South West of England Regional Development Agency (South West RDA) is a single point of contact for overseas companies providing a comprehensive service for any company interested in locating to the region. We'll help you to make the right decisions for your business and will ensure your move to South West England is a successful one.


Living and Working in the Region
South West England is the most popular place to relocate in the UK, with a working population that is growing at double the national average.

The key strength of the region is that it attracts highly educated people because of the quality of life and the work-life balance. The diversity of landscape and cultural mix within the region explains why it can boast one of the highest rates of relocation of professionally qualified people in the UK.

The region is perfectly set up to attract the top employees you need to make your business a success. With an excellent communications infrastructure that allows fast access around the UK and continental Europe. The average commuting time in the South West is 20 minutes, compared with an average of 55 minutes for central London.

Housing in the region comes in a wide variety of forms from waterside and rural properties to town houses and modern executive developments at prices significantly lower than London and the South East.

South West England is an excellent place to enjoy sports with top teams competing in Football, Cricket and Rugby Union as well as several of the leading horse racing festivals. With our excellent climate and beautiful countryside there are plenty of opportunities to try these out for yourself. The region also boasts top water sports such as the World Surfing Championship which takes place in Newquay, Cornwall. With 60% of the nation's protected coastline there is plenty of space for all activities.

For those who enjoy cultural richness and diversity there's the chance to revel in music festivals such as Glastonbury, plays at the Bristol Old Vic or Hall for Cornwall, and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. There is truly something for everyone in South West England.

The region has a rich and diverse wildlife, and boasts a high proportion of the UK's important wildlife sites, habitats and species.

The distinctiveness of the natural and man-made landscape (features such as the White Horse and Cerne Abbas Giant carved out of the chalk hills of Wiltshire and the well-known monument of Stonehenge) all contribute to a strong sense of place.

The landscapes and cultural heritage of South West England will continue to inspire many people.

The South West enjoys a temperate climate with mild winters, warm summers and clean air

Transport and Communications
The South West has a great communications infrastructure including modern airports, top quality road, rail and sea links and high-speed broadband access. This ensures that the region's businesses have first-class access to the global market place and key suppliers.
By Road
The M4 motorway, running East to West and the M5 from North to South, meet in the region providing fast access routes in either direction. This means that 90% of the UK population is within 4.5 hours driving time. London and the Channel Tunnel are within easy reach and the region's roads are amongst the safest in Europe.

Drive Times
London to Poole - 2hrs 15mins
London to Bristol - 2hrs 15mins
London to Taunton - 2hrs 45mins
London to Exeter - 3hrs 15mins
London to Plymouth - 4hrs 15mins
London to Truro - 5hrs 15mins
London to Penzance - 5hrs 45mins




By Air
The South West has some of the UK's fastest growing airports including Bristol, Exeter and Bournemouth. All offer international and domestic flights to leading UK and European destinations including Barcelona, London, Amsterdam, Dublin, Frankfurt and Prague. From these European hubs you can fly all over the world. Other airports in the region include Plymouth International and Newquay providing flights to France and Ireland and other UK airports.

Further to this Heathrow, Gatwick and Birmingham airports are easily reached in about 90 minutes via road and rail links.


Bristol Airport - www.bristolairport.co.uk
Bournemouth Airport - www.flybournemouth.com
Exeter Airport - www.exeter-airport.co.uk
Plymouth Airport - www.plymouthcity.co.uk
Newquay Airport - www.newquay.org.uk/getting.html
By Rail
South West England is well served by rail links throughout the region. High speed services connect passengers and freight direct to London, other parts of the UK and continental Europe. Several multi-modal road/rail transport hubs ensure that supply chains and logistical requirements for businesses are met.

www.nationalrail.co.uk
By Sea
South West England has busy commercial ports at Bristol, Falmouth, Plymouth, Portland, Weymouth, Poole and Teignmouth. Bristol is recognised as the most economical port distribution location in the UK reaching some 42 million people within a 250km (155m) radius. The Royal Portbury Dock (Bristol) is the UK's fastest growing port, and has the largest car import - export terminal in the UK, handling over 8.6 million tons of cargo.
Broadband
Broadband internet - the vital communication backbone for modern businesses is highly developed in South West England. The transatlantic fibre-optic cable enters the UK at Cornwall, with access points available throughout the region along is route. The South West has a world-class telecommunications and internet infrastructure with connections allowing up to 10Gbps. The superior telecoms provision has contributed to the development of several key industry clusters that use the wide bandwidth as a tool for their business communication. Currently 83% of the region has access to broadband.

Visit www.connectingsw.net for more information

Workforce
South West England has a population of over five million. It is the fastest growing region in the country, with one of the highest qualified and most loyal labour pools in the UK. 27% of the region's residents are qualified to degree standard or above - this is one of the highest proportions in the UK.

The region's businesses benefit from:
♦ Labour costs lower than the UK average
♦ A highly motivated and flexible workforce
♦ High economic activity rates of people of a working age - 3% higher than UK average
♦ A constant source of talented graduates from the region's universities
♦ Attracting high quality workers from other regions
In addition 79% of the region's economically active population is in employment - the highest percentage in the country. It is little surprise that meeting the requirements of a variety of different industries and organisations is no problem for our region.

"The combination of challenging employment opportunities with a high quality of life has helped us attract the first class workforce we needed"
- Professor Joe McGeehan, Managing Director, Toshiba Research Laboratories
Universities
South West England's universities and higher education colleges play a key role in contributing to the region's economy with over 337,000 students currently in further and higher education.
Access to highly skilled employees
Developing a highly skilled workforce is vital to being both innovative and competitive. Universities can offer flexible solutions to your workforce requirements through:
♦ High quality training and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Programmes. These may range from half day short courses on new technologies to those leading to a postgraduate diploma or an MBA. They can be tailored to suit individual organisations.
♦ Helping businesses spot talent and place ambitious students and graduates to solve particular problems or meet business needs. A variety of schemes exist offering flexible, cost effective placements for a few weeks or a few years.
♦ www.gradsouthwest.com - a free web-based service allows you to advertise your requirements and access the students and graduates your business requires.
Access to new ideas & technologies
♦ Businesses can develop more pre-competitive research and spread risk by expanding research horizons through tailored research projects and specialist consultancy.
♦ Access to sophisticated technologies and resources without the need for major capital expenditure, enables the development of new business and manufacturing solutions.
♦ Networking links provide the opportunity to stay up-to-date with cutting edge developments from across the world.
Access to commercial opportunities
♦ Business gateways in all of the region's universities provide opportunities to purchase technology licenses, and exploit a variety of patents whilst advising on Intellectual Property (IP) management.
♦ Spin-out companies offer your business new services and technologies as well as investment opportunities for Venture Capitalists and Business Angels.
♦ University supported incubator units and science parks provide integrated business support and resources for innovative new businesses operating throughout the supply chain.
Economic Impact of HE on the region 2001-2002
Total Direct Expenditure £1.1 bn
Total Direct and Indirect impact on the region £1.7 bn
Additional jobs created 44000


Knowledge 4 Business
University of Bath
Bournemouth University
University of Bristol
Exeter University
University of Gloucestershire
The Open University in the South West
University of Plymouth
University of the West of England
The Arts Institute at Bournemouth
Bath Spa University College
College of St Mark and St John
Dartington College of Arts
Falmouth College of Arts
Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester
Combined Universities in Cornwall


KNOWLEDGE 4 BUSINESS
www.k4b.co.uk
Universities and colleges are supporting enterprise in the region by providing easy access to their expertise, facilities and services. They have come together to provide 'Knowledge 4 Business', a comprehensive web-based resource for business in the region. The site provides:
♦ a searchable database of Centres of Higher Education Expertise within the region;
♦ information about problem solving, training and research & development;
♦ contact details for each Institution;
♦ Case studies showing businesses that have benefited from interacting with the region's HEIs.
UNIVERSITY OF BATH
www.bath.ac.uk
Strengths in architecture, biosciences, business & management, civil engineering, economics & politics, education, hospitality, leisure, recreation, sport and tourism, mathematics, statistics & operational research, mechanical engineering, pharmacology & pharmacy, physics & astronomy, social policy & administration.

Founded in 1966, the University of Bath is unmistakably modern in both appearance and outlook. It places a strong emphasis on education for the 'real world': an emphasis reflected in the consistently high demand for its graduates. Most courses contain a practical element allowing students to gain more extensive experience in industry, before returning for their final year. Bath has one of the highest rated MBA programmes in Britain.

BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY
www.bournemouth.ac.uk
Strengths in archaeology, business & management, communication & media studies, cinematics, hospitality, leisure, recreation, sport & tourism, and nursing.

The University of Bournemouth is a modern institution that offers practical experience during the degree course. All of the courses offered aim to develop the skills and personal qualities which employers value - problem solving, decision making, enterprise, communication, teamwork, computer literacy and basic business awareness. Top companies, such as IBM, Marks and Spencer and British Airways, work closely with the University, helping to shape the contents of the courses taught resulting in graduates of sufficiently high calibre to meet their requirements and expectations.

THE UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
www.bristol.ac.uk
Strengths in science, medicine, engineering (including computer science), arts, social sciences and law.

Founded in 1876, Bristol is well established as one of the UK's leading universities. It has an outstanding research record in a very broad range of subject areas, with specialisms in science, engineering, telecommunications technology, medical sciences and medicine, together with a strong commitment to enterprise and partnership with industry. The University has 14,000 students and 5,000 staff from over 100 countries and research links that span the globe. It prides itself on its high standards of teaching and research, its international outlook, its willingness to innovate and its importance to the economic and cultural life of the city and the region.

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
www.exeter.ac.uk
Strengths in accounting & finance, advanced engineering, applied mathematics, biological chemistry, biotechnology, economics, education & lifelong learning, environmental research (including tourism, rural research & water systems), exercise & sport sciences, health & social care, IT, medicine, law, management, mining and geology, modern languages, and physics.

A research-led institution with 98% of subject areas rated of national or international standing (Research Assessment Exercise 2001); Exeter is one of the most popular universities in the country amongst applicants and is highly rated for the quality of its teaching. The University has an excellent reputation for the employability of its graduates and provides a variety of services to employers to enable them to promote their opportunities to students. The Exeter MBA is accredited by AMBA and the CPD Office runs a range of short professional courses that can be taken as stand-alone modules, built up into a postgraduate award or tailored to suit the needs of individual companies. A £1.5m Innovation Centre provides accommodation for high-tech businesses and is also the gateway to the University's services and facilities for business. Each year, over 500 businesses work with the University on research, consultancy, student projects and training and staff development.

UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE
www.glos.ac.uk
Strengths in art & design, communication & media studies, geography, psychology, sociology, theology & religious studies, and town & country planning & landscape.

The University of Gloucestershire is Britain's newest University - it received University status in 2001, but can trace its roots back to 1847. The University plays an important part in the regional economy offering a range of services to businesses, employers and organisations.

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY IN THE SOUTH WEST
www.open.ac.uk/south-west
Strengths in business & management, technology, environment, computing, health & social care, law, science, e-learning, validation services, continuing professional development and tailored programmes.

The Open University is the largest university offering part-time courses in the United Kingdom and with 12,500 students currently studying in the South West it is an important local provider of education. The unique delivery method of supported open learning offers the flexibility for students to fit study around work and personal commitment. Many of the 600 tutors across the region are specialist staff from research establishments, higher education, business and industry. The University is at the forefront in the use of technology to improve both teaching and learning. The Open University Business School is the largest in Europe and has an AMBA accredited MBA programme.

UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH
www.plymouth.ac.uk
Strengths in psychology, ocean science, environmental sciences, geography, geology, building, civil engineering, food science, biological sciences, nursing, politics, agriculture, land & property management, education, and leisure, recreation, sport & tourism.

The University of Plymouth is one of the largest and most prominent universities in the United Kingdom. It is also, with an income of around £105 million, one of the most significant businesses in the South West. The broad portfolio of programmes, with their strong vocational emphasis, equips students with valuable intellectual, practical and personal skills. Strong links with business and opportunities for research are developed in a dynamic teaching and learning environment. The University of Plymouth has a sophisticated system for distance learning. It has a network of 17 Further Education partner colleges in the region. In partnership with Exeter University and the NHS, Plymouth has established the Peninsula Medical School, which takes its first undergraduate students in October 2002.

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND (UWE)
www.uwe.ac.uk
Strengths in business & management, biological & biomedical science, computing, law, education, art, media & design, engineering, health & social care, humanities, social studies and the built environment.

UWE is renowned for the quality of its teaching, with many courses reaching close to maximum scores in assessment by the Quality Assessment Agency and is ranked 6th in the country. The University is one of Britain's most popular, with 23,000 students including 1,300 international students and 4,000 postgraduates. There has been a 70% increase in the quantity and quality of research carried out by UWE's 30 research centres. This is reinforced by UWE's strong links with industry and the community, ensuring that students receive tuition that is up-to-date and relevant to the world of work. UWE is also the largest recruiter of students from under-represented groups in the South West, with a wide range of initiatives to increase participation in Higher Education from under-represented groups.
Higher Education Colleges
THE ARTS INSTITUTE AT BOURNEMOUTH
www.arts-inst-bournemouth.ac.uk
Strengths in art, design and media.

The Arts Institute at Bournemouth is one of only a few specialist providers within the Higher Education sector that focus exclusively upon creative work in contemporary art, design and media. The Institute enjoys a close relationship with the creative industry sector, with well-established links both home and abroad (including many influential alumni). Established for 120 years, the Institute currently has 1500 students following full-time courses and a smaller number studying on part-time and short courses.

BATH SPA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
www.bathspa.ac.ukuk
Strengths in art & design, music & music technology, performing arts, education, humanities, social sciences and environmental sciences.

Bath Spa University College has a long tradition of education and training in the region, and provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses to over 4,200 students. It is currently enjoying one of the highest increases in student applications of all universities and colleges in the country. It is highly rated for the quality of its teaching, and has an excellent graduate employment record. Links with business are important, and Centres of Expertise for business exist in the following specialisms: digital and interactive audio, geo-technologies, food business research and consultancy, environmental and waste management, creative writing, and healthcare management.

COLLEGE OF ST MARK AND ST JOHN
www.marjon.ac.uk
Strengths in art, design & technology, education, english, theology, and leisure & tourism.

The College of St Mark & St John is a Church of England voluntary college, with a history of over 150 years. Its constituent colleges, St John's, Battersea and St Mark's, Chelsea, date back to the 1840s. The College of St Mark & St John moved from London to Plymouth in 1973. Today the College has an academic community of approximately 5000 people. Its educational activities have continued to evolve in response to local, regional, national and international needs.

DARTINGTON COLLEGE OF ARTS
www.dartington.ac.uk
Strengths in contemporary performance arts (arts management, music, theatre, performance writing, visual performance, and fine arts theory & practice).

Dartington College of Arts is a specialist university sector college for higher education and research in the arts. Its approach to the arts has been consistent since foundation in 1961. It has an international reputation for engagement with new and emerging performance arts practices, insisting that: the arts relate to cultural and social contexts, and should not be separate from everyday life; practice and theory need to be studied side by side; artists should be proactive in changing cultural contexts, equipped to manage themselves and their practice.

FALMOUTH COLLEGE OF ARTS
www.falmouth.ac.uk
Strengths in design (graphic, 3D, spatial, textiles, gardens), media (journalism, broadcasting, film studies, advertising, interactive design, professional writing, english/media), creative arts (fine art, illustration, photography, studio crafts), and history of modern art/design.

This specialist college, which marks its centenary in 2002, is one of the top-rated in its sector. Graduates go on to major international firms in the creative industries and provide a stock of resident talent in the region. FCA's artists make a major contribution to Cornwall's long artistic tradition and quality of life. The college offers consultancy and facility hire for businesses across the curriculum including access to the newly-built media centre that houses TV, music and radio studios.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, CIRENCESTER
www.royagcol.ac.uk
Strengths in agriculture & farming, business management, equine management, forestry, horticulture, rural land & property management, and wine business management.

The Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester is a specialist Higher Education Institution for the delivery of education, research and consultancy to industries in and relating to the rural economy. The first college of agriculture in the English-speaking world, the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, is set in the heart of the Cotswold countryside. Students of the College have the use of high-quality study and accommodation facilities and a wide range of social and sporting opportunities. The main building, in the style of an Oxford college, has been a seat of learning for agriculture for students for 156 years.

COMBINED UNIVERSITIES IN CORNWALL
www.cuc.ac.uk
This collaboration between higher and further education providers in Cornwall is unique in the UK. CUC is the largest capital injection into higher education in modern times and will create 1,300 additional graduates a year by the end of the decade, as well new resources for research and learning to serve business in the west of the region. The major development is at Falmouth; but higher education resources in Cornwall's further education colleges will also be boosted, to take them close to local workforces.

The partners in CUC are Exeter and Plymouth Universities, Falmouth College of Arts, the Open University, and the College of St Mark and St John, together with Cornwall College, Truro College and Penwith College.

Incubation and Science Parks
Encouraging the creation and growth of new businesses is an important factor for a successful economy. By finding and supporting the development of strategic sites, science parks and incubation creating the right environment for business.
Current Provision
Business Incubation
♦ Exeter Innovation Centre
♦ Bournemouth University Innovation Centre
♦ Tetricus Incubation Centre, Porton Down
♦ Gloucestershire Innovation Centre
♦ Bristol Enterprise Centre
♦ Goshen Enterprise Centre
♦ Winfrith Innovation Centre, Dorset
♦ Oakfield Incubation Centre, University of Bath at Swindon
♦ Tamar Science Park, Derriford, Plymouth
♦ Cotswold Innovation Centre, Gloucestershire
♦• Innovate Centre at the University of West of England
♦ The Coach House, Small Business Centre, Bristol
♦ Carpenter House, Bath
Science Parks
♦ Porton Down Science Park, Salisbury Plain
♦ Winfrith Technology Centre, Dorset
♦ Bristol Science Park
♦ Tamar Science Park, Derriford, Plymouth
♦ Bournemouth Aviation Park, Bournemouth
Case Study
Tetricus Ltd, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Tetricus Ltd is a partnership between three different but complementary organisations: Great Western Enterprise, New Sarum Enterprises and DSTL (Defence Science and Technology Laboratories), all based at the science park at Porton Down.

Porton Down offers Tetricus Ltd and its client companies many opportunities. These include a state of the art analytical chemistry facility, world-class microbiology facilities, cGMP compliant large-scale fermentation and downstream processing. In addition, product finishing and packaging are available from the Centre for Applied Microbiological Research (CAMR), adjacent to the science park.

A fully customisable mentoring service is also available to client companies. Backed by a professional network of service providers, Tetricus Ltd provides access to advice on intellectual property issues, assists in the development of business plans, raises finance and provides everything a fledgling biotechnology enterprise needs in the early stages of life to prosper.
Strategic Sites
With a wealth of quality brownfield sites that range in size, facilities and location, the six counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, offer businesses of all types the scope and skills they need in order to fulfil their potential.