South Hampshire to Develop World Leading Sectors

South Hampshire is gaining an international reputation for its expertise in aerospace, defence, marine, and environmental technologies.

PUSH is actively promoting and supporting these sectors to develop their global competitiveness, and at the end of 2010, set forth its new Economic Development Strategy. PUSH Chairman, Councillor Seán Woodward, expressed their determination to ensure the successful delivery of the projects: “PUSH is passionate about putting local people first to ensure that what we deliver meets your needs and that of our future generations.”

Well supported by a background in advanced manufacturing and innovation, two major universities and research facilities, an established international business base, and a highly developed workforce, these four sectors are set to grow into globally competitive clusters that will provide abundant investment opportunities.

Councillor Seán Woodward commented that the Strategy would “focus on employment and skills, estate renewal, sustainable infrastructure and quality of place”, adding: “This is a great way to start 2011.”

Invention and Innovation

Southampton is globally known for its past inventions, including the Spitfire, Fibre Optics, the Circular Saw, and the Hovercraft. Now, the city continues to hone its reputation through modern developments such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, Semi-Conductors, Geothermal Heating & Cooling, and Biochemistry, including the development of the Swine Flu ID Test Kit.

Increasing numbers of start-up and expanding high-tech businesses are locating in the region because of its strength in these sectors, and for the support system that has developed. This includes expert advice from the Solent Innovation and Growth Team, and the knowledge transfer opportunities provided by the Universities and specialist testing, incubation, and laboratory facilities.

Councillor Seán Woodward, Chairman of PUSH, said, “We want to encourage businesses in our region to take an active role in shaping the future agenda in capturing and building on existing strengths as well as opportunities.”

The Economic Development Strategy outlines the region’s greatest strengths as being in advanced manufacturing. This includes the marine and aerospace sectors, fortified by their shared supply chains and markets, and employing over 45,000 people in South Hampshire. Moreover, this figure is expected to grow as opportunities arise from export growth triggered by the depreciation of the pound. PUSH says it is committed to supporting “businesses looking to move into new and growing markets and ensure innovation is at the heart of improving competitiveness.”

Having grown by more than 50% in the last decade and drawing from the existing skills base in aerospace and marine activities, the environmental technologies sector presents great potential for investment opportunities, particularly in generating energy and increasing the efficiency of energy, water and waste utilisation.

The strategy aims to capitalise on South Hampshire’s potential in environmental technologies by securing support from central government, seizing market opportunities and utilising the business and academic communities.

International Business Base

Home to major corporate giants such as ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd, EADS Astrium, SELEX Galileo, Lockheed Martin, IBM UK, Pall Europe, Siemens Roke Manor, and BMT ARGOSS, South Hampshire’s large cluster of international businesses is fortifying the area’s marine, defence and aerospace industries, and attracting several new companies and start-ups.

To accommodate the influx of new businesses and support future developments, PUSH and the councils in South Hampshire are prioritising the development of quality workspace. The new Innovation Centre in Southampton offers 2,787 sq m of office space for knowledge-based companies and benefits from close proximity to the National Oceanography Centre, one of the top five oceanographic research institutions in the world.

Supportive Academic Infrastructure

South Hampshire’s academic support system for the business community is strong, and includes two highly regarded universities, the Southampton Science Park and the new Innovation Centre at Ocean Village. To encourage knowledge share and networking activities, South Hampshire authorities and PUSH have implemented SETsquared, a collaboration between the universities of Southampton, Bristol, Bath, and Surrey.

The University of Southampton is known worldwide for pioneering the technology that sparked the development of the Internet, and for its continued developments at the Institute of Web Science. The University provides many business services and is currently developing a Maritime Centre of Excellence (MCE), which PUSH is claiming will be “a new world-leading centre for innovation, business and education in maritime disciplines”, in collaboration with the National Oceanography Centre (NOC).

The University can also claim high levels of in expertise in environmental technologies, which have led to South Hampshire’s bid to become a Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA). Being recognised as such will bring a plethora of benefits and opportunities to businesses in the sector.

Meanwhile, Southampton Solent University provides an array of training, advisory, and R&D services for business, with specialist facilities on campus including Warsash Maritime Academy, Solent Productions, and the Centre for Innovation & Design.

Prepared Workforce

Together, the University of Southampton and Southampton Solent University provide research and teaching for approximately 40,000 students, providing a strong skills base for the business community to draw from. Several schemes are in place to facilitate the transition from academia into industry.

PUSH Vice Chairman, Councillor Gerald-Vernon Jackson, said:

“A key requirement for projects that are being supported by PUSH is to secure additional employer-led apprenticeships.”

Designed to create support for individuals and new business start-ups, the Apprenticeship Scheme is a continuation of Portsmouth’s successful campaign, "100 Apprenticeship places for 100 young people to fill in 100 days," spearheaded by Portsmouth City Council in collaboration with The News and National Apprenticeship.

Chairman of the PUSH Economic Delivery Panel, Councillor Tony Briggs, said: “Working with employers to increase employer based apprenticeships is a key focus for PUSH’s Employment and Skills Board, which is Chaired by Debra Humphries, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Education at the University of Southampton.”

For more information on doing business in South Hampshire, visit their pages.