High Value Manufacturing in the Great South West
Hardisty Jones prepared a report for the Great South West (GSW) pan-regional partnership (covering Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, and Somerset) which reviewed the scale of High Value Manufacturing across the GSW.
High Value Manufacturing (HVM)[1] is a priority for the GSW and the partnership sets an ambition to become the UK’s natural powerhouse, creating high value employment and economic growth from the transition to a net zero economy. HVM is identified to have a key role in continuing to deliver the future growth and prosperity to the GSW region, aligning with the UK Government’s focus on advanced manufacturing.
Hardisty Jones delivered a detailed evidence-based review of manufacturing activities in the GSW in order to inform future work and economic development for the pan-regional partnership. Our work focused on HVM and specific key sectors which included Aerospace and Aviation, Marine, Defence and Security, Clean Energy, Electronics and Photonics, and Food and Drink (including Agri-tech).
Building the evidence-base involved reviewing strategic policies, consulting with stakeholders and collating data surrounding HVM and the key sectors. Through defining HVM and the key sectors using best fit Standard Industrial Classifications (2007), economic data on employment, GVA per worker, business counts, R&D investment, and exports was collated and assessed. This allowed us to assess the economic performance and scale of these activities across the GSW.
Our work was able to show the distribution of manufacturing and HVM businesses and employment across the GSW. Our work helped to identify clusters of activity, supply chains, and economic strengths of HVM. Figure 1 below presents an overview of some of the key businesses based in the area and where the key sectors are mainly distributed across the GSW.
Figure 1 Concentrations of activities and examples of assets in High Value Manufacturing
The report highlighted the growth potential in each of the High Value Manufacturing sectors in the Great South West, and the significant global demand driving this. Our work helped to identify specific areas and clusters of strength within HVM, helping to identify potential future opportunities and challenges to future growth alongside recommended actions that the GSW partnership could uptake to address them.
Comments on the report stated in an article discussing the report said:
“The report will now serve as a key document for collaboration between businesses, universities, and stakeholders to drive the sector forward. The Great South West Partnership will use the findings to engage with Government and investors to unlock new opportunities for the region’s manufacturing capabilities.”
Katherine Bennett CBE, CEO of High Value Manufacturing Catapult, said: “The insights it provides are critical to understanding how we can accelerate the commercialisation of innovations, strengthen the UK’s manufacturing base, and unlock opportunities for high-value jobs and prosperous communities.”
If you would like to talk to us about how we can support your efforts to assess economic strengths in your area, please get in touch using the project lead contact details provided below.
[1] Defined by GSW and HVM Catapult as manufacturing activities which generate high economic value, are strategically important to the region, and have a positive social or environmental impact.
