The place people want to be
The South West of England is ranked as one
of the best places to live in Europe.
The region is the largest in the UK, but with
the lowest population density (Source: Mid Year Population
Estimates 2008, issued Aug 2009). It has around
1,000km of coastline and some of the UK's most spectacular scenery.
Over a third of the region is designated as National Park or Areas
of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
This fantastic environment acts as an inspiration for the
region's innovators and entrepreneurs. The South West is a
powerhouse of groundbreaking ideas and leading edge R&D, with
exciting developments in ICT, biotechnologies and creative
industries just some of the ways the region is influencing
the way everyone in the world lives and works.
Inward investors often find the South West's
exceptional quality of life is their greatest ally in recruiting
and retaining the best people
So, before you settle on the overcrowded South
East as your investment location, just take a look at some of these
facts:
FACT: The South West
enjoys the UK's highest rates of relocation of professionally
qualified people. Between 1998 and 2001, the South West's
population grew by 7.4% compared to 5.4% for England as a whole
(Source: Mid Year Population Estimates 2008, issued Aug 2009). This
was due, almost entirely, to inward migration. The South West is
the place people want to be
FACT: In 2007-08,
over half of the inward migration was from London and the South
East (source: Office of National Statistics,
Inter-regional Migration Movements)
FACT: Workers in the
South West enjoy the UK's highest levels of happiness, motivation
and pleasure in their surroundings (source: 2005
wellbeing@work survey)
FACT: A recent survey
by The Financial Times placed the South West at the top of all nine
English regions based on low stress levels and high contentment at
work and home (source: Financial Times)
FACT: The South West
has 60% of England's Protected Coastline and there are 46 National
Nature Reserves. The region is home to world heritage
sites such as Bath, Avebury, Stonehenge and the Jurassic Coast
FACT: The average
commuting time in central London is 55 minutes whilst in the South
West it is 23 (Source: Department for Transport, Regional
Statistic 2008)
FACT: The South West
is one of the safest places in the UK to live, with the
second lowest regional rate of recorded crime in England and Wales
reported during 2008/9 (Source: ONS)
FACT: The South West
has the highest life expectancy of any English region
(source: Office of National Statistics, Life
Expectancy)
FACT: The South West
has the mildest climate in the UK
FACT: Roads in the
South West are among the safest in Britain. Only the North
East and East Midlands have fewer road casualties (source:
Department for Transport, Road Casualties Great Britain
2007)
FACT: More people in
the South West walk or cycle to work than anywhere else in the
UK (source: Department for Transport, Regional
Transport Statistics)
FACT: The South West
of England is relatively affluent - Gross Disposable
Household Income here is the highest outside the Greater South East
(source: Office of National Statistics, Regional Disposable
Household Income)
FACT: The South West
has above average rates of social and civic participation and
volunteering (source: Home Office, Citizenship
Survey), reflecting the region's enduring sense of
community.
For more information about investing in the
South West of England, contact Head of Inward Investment Ellen Stallins.