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The South West of England boasts a diverse and magnificent landscape and a dynamic outlook, which provides an excellent quality of life and a unique working environment.
The South West of England is one of the most attractive- and most interesting - parts of Europe. The coastline, countryside, cities, towns and villages are second to none in their enduring appeal. The South West is a region of innovation and enterprise, proud of its past and looking forward positively to the future. |
Population
The South West of England is home to 5 million people, equivalent to 8.6% of the UK population, whilst representing the largest of the eight English regions geographically. It is predominantly a rural region but with a number of urban centres, namely Bristol, Bournemouth & Poole, Plymouth, Bath and Exeter. Around 8% of the population live in or around these key urban areas. The urban and rural parts of the region combine to provide a diverse economic base. Bristol has been the main economic driver, largely due to its size and levels or productivity, but areas such as Cornwall have also shown strong economic growth over recent years.
Economy
The economy of the South West of England has grown steadily over the past two decades. The regional Gross Value Added growth and employment growth has consistently out-performed the UK average. Furthermore, the South West has education attainment rates among the highest in the UK.
The South West is marked by its economic diversity. The South West of England Regional Development Agency has identified five economically important sectors (advanced Engineering, including aerospace; food and drink; ICT; leisure and tourism; marine) and three emerging sectors (biotechnology; creative industries; environmental technologies) in its Regional Economic Strategy.
Tourism
The South West is surpassed only by London as a tourist destination and represents a beautiful and historic part of England. Its two national parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor, cover 1,631 km2 and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty cover approximately one fifth of the Region. The South West Coast Path, probably England's most beautiful and diverse national trail, provides residents and visitors with an unsurpassed natural resource. This unique blend ensures the South West of England is a popular destination for visitors from both the UK and overseas.
The South West region is also rich in cultural assets, from community-based festivals to major heritage sites, sports and arts institutions and activities. These all form part of a ‘creative infrastructure', which is crucial to the South West's engagement with the creative and knowledge economy, as well as providing a solid resource base for sustainable tourism.
Environment & Transport
The environment in the South West is one of the richest in the UK, with over 60% of the UK's Heritage Coast, almost half the UK's designated bathing waters and high proportions of the UK's rarest and most endangered habitats. The South West also boasts the highest life expectancy of all the English regions for women at 82.0 years and 77.8 years for men. Social circumstances, such as the environment, are said to be a key reason for good health and well-being in the Region.
The South West also has an extensive road network, with more than 5,000km of major roads and 43,000km of minor roads. Air travel is also growing, with the Region's airports in Bristol, Exeter, Bournemouth, Plymouth and Newquay. There are also a number of major ports in Bristol, Plymouth, Poole and Cornwall.
More detailed information on the South West region can be found on the websites of the SWRDA, the South West Observatory and in the South West Observatory - State of the South West 2009 Report
