"Business benefits"

Exactly what's in South West England for you?

• An exciting and active business community: our economy generates 9% of the total output in England. Its GDP growth outstrips the national average. The survival rate of our businesses is the highest in Britain.
• A highly skilled workforce: over 27% of our population is educated to degree standard or above. 52% of England's population lives within 2 hours drive. We enjoy the UK's highest rates of relocation of professionally qualified people.
• Higher productivity: advanced engineering staff, for example, are 31% more productive than their peers elsewhere in the UK.
• Unbeatable quality of life: 4 of our 6 six counties top the UK as 'the best in which to live and work'. The 2005 Wellbeing@Work survey found that workers and bosses enjoy the highest levels of wellbeing at work in the UK. What's more, the daily commute is - at 22 minutes - well below the national average.
• Easy access to markets: The South West has some of the UK's fastest growing airports including Bristol, Exeter and Bournemouth. £951 million is earmarked for transport projects, to further improve travel times.
• Lower overheads: labour costs are around 5% lower than UK average.
• Support/training: 24% of the South West workforce are in job-related training.
• R&D: our region spends over 10% more on R&D than the national average.

Hear how Ecotricity founder Dale Vince believes the South West has helped his business grow.