Great South West image and map

Great South West

The South West of England is a great place. It is poised for a step change in productivity and prosperity, taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the Industrial Strategy.

A private-public sector partnership, Great South West is committed to driving investment, delivering major projects, developing a testbed for new ideas and ensuring the Great South West’s opportunities are understood by the Government.

Great South West logo in teal and blue

The Great South West’s economy is worth almost £65 billion per year, exporting £12.75 billion of exports in goods and services every year. We are home to seven universities and over 128,000 businesses.

Natural assets in geothermal, wave, tidal and wind offer unrivalled potential for renewable technologies. The region is in the vanguard of green technologies nationally, and we are accelerating that potential globally.

Agritech pilots are transforming the food and drink sector, and much of the future of food production, agriculture and fishing is being shaped by internationally recognised companies and institutions across the region.

And with a third of the UK’s farms, producing £3 billion of food a year, the region is critical to delivering a secure, domestic food supply.

Home to the UK's Marine and Maritime Launchpad cluster, the Great South West has the country’s first Marine Enterprise Zone, and the largest naval base in Western Europe. A rich ecosystem of world-class defence research capabilities and businesses has developed over decades, alongside an emerging cluster of space and cyber security expertise. The Plymouth and South Freeport is a national hub for trade and investment, building on the region’s international capabilities in marine, defence and space.

As the Pan-Regional Partnership for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, Great South West is focused on:

  • Shifting the needle on UK economic growth
  • Driving the UK economy forward
  • Leading in globally critical sectors for the UK

The Partnership Board has representatives from business, universities, councils and Local Enterprise Partnerships. Transport, energy, manufacturing, agriculture, marine and space sectors are all represented. The Board works with Government and champions our incredible region on a national and international level.

To find out more about Great South West, visit their website here.