location, relocation, expansion, portal

Click on the sectors below for further information about each one:

• Public sector

• Tourism & leisure

• Biotechnology

• Telecommunications

• Tourism & leisure

• Engineering

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Tourism & leisure

Key Reasons:

Exeter is home to over 3,000 professional and business service companies. The city and its economic sub-region, the Heart ofDevon, offer an ideal location for legal, financial, and business services. There are approximately 12,000 employees within these sectors, including some 4,500 staff providing legal and accountancy services.

The area has experienced consistent growth in the support services available to businesses in professional services, with an increasing number of regional headquarters being constructed to accommodate the establishment of major firms who are locating to Exeter for its low cost base and many other advantages.

Added Value:

Firms are attracted to Exeter for a range of reasons, including:

• The regional economic role performed by the city
• Its central geographic position in the South West with good access to road, rail and air links
• Accessibility to local business customers
• Its low cost base enabling local firms to compete effectively for business in London and international markets
• The availability of prestigious prime offices
• A workforce that has a ‘can do’ attitude and are loyal, hardworking, stable, and versatile
• an increasing supply of employees drawn from a growing resident population, local university and college students and key workers attracted to work in an area renowned for its quality of life.
• Prime offices 2 hours from London; prestigious accommodation, priced below that of competitor cities, enable national and international companies to trade effectively at reduced bottom line costs.
• Access to key skills with over 3,700 employees in the legal and accountancy sectors.
• Access to an academic pedigree, with world-class research being conducted at the School of Law at the University of Exeter, and the University's Business School.

Sub-Sectors:

Legal, Accountancy, Finance, Insurance, Banking, Business to Business Services

Skills:

Skill Area: Director

Skill Area: Lawyer

Skill Area: Accountant

Sector Companies:

Ashfords, Michelmores, Foot Anstey, Ford and Simey, Ernst and Young, Stones, Bishop Fleming and Bond Pearce.

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Tourism & leisure

Key Reasons:

• Exeter has a 2,000-year history
• Proximity to Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage site, two national parks and two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• New hotels built in the last 5 years, and more are planned, reflecting the growing demand.
• One of only 10 quality retail centres across Great Britain. Its retail catchment secures a spend of some £730m (€870m) per annum. Princeshay is the City’s flagship retail offer.
• Over 300 independent and individual specialist shops with brilliant gift ideas, antiques, vintage clothes, stylish boutiques, galleries and crafts
• The 3rd quarter of 2012 will see the opening of a new John Lewis store in Exeter; this should increase the city's retail catchment and visitor expenditure.
• Exeter's annual Festival of Food and Drink brings many ‘foodie' visitors interested in good local produce. The restaurant sector too has a strong reputation. Devon vineyards, farms, cheese makers and other food producers work well with the tourism and leisure industry here.
• Over 200 places to eat out in Exeter, including several restaurants, Michelin-starred Michael Caines at AbBode, Giraffe, Carluccio's, Wagamama and Coal.
• Around 19,000 students study at the University, attracting their family members too.
• In the last 5 years, income from expenditure by day visitors to Exeter has grown by 17%. 
• Exeter attracts nearly 2million visitors annually
• In 2010, total tourism spend in the Exeter economy amounted to £730 million (€870 million)
• Exeter International Airport and Flybe draw in foreign visitors
• The 4-year, multi-million-pound refurbishment of the Royal Albert Memorial Museum saw its re-opening in December 2011. This allows the museum to host exciting new exhibitions. The national exposure from this is likely to attract more day and overnight visitors, groups and conferences.
• It's easy to walk around Exeter through the city's open air public spaces and traffic-free shopping areas
• There is a city-wide rail and bus network with frequent services. Inter-linked park and ride sites connected to bus services provide alternatives to car parking in the city.
• Renowned area for a good quality of life
• Heart of Devon Tourism Partnership actively promotes Exeter and its hinterland as a visitor destination.

Sub-Sectors:

Hospitality, Hotels, Attractions, Leisure Development, Entertainment Activities, Catering Services, Food Production, Retail,

Skills:

Skill Area: Chef
Skill Salary: Up to £25,000

Skill Area: Hotel manager
Skill Salary: Up to £30,000

Skill Area: Sales assistant
Skill Salary: Up to £14,000

Sector Companies:

Abode Exeter (hotel, pub and café), Rougemont Thistle Hotel, Jurys Inn, Premier Inn (x2 locations), Southgate Hotel, Woodbury Park Hotel, Exeter International Airport, Flybe, Langstone Cliff Hotel, Devon Cliffs (Sandy Bay) Holiday Park, Otter Vale Products, Fresha, Ladram Bay Holiday Park, Brend Hotels (Devon Hotel, Belmont Hotel and Victoria Hotel - both Sidmouth), Holiday Inn Express, Crealy Adventure Park, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Rod & Bens, Chunk Pasties, Parkwood Leisure (provide Exeter City Council leisure facilities), University of Exeter (hospitality services), Exeter Phoenix, Otter Breweries, Rocks Organic Cordials, Sandford Orchards, Darts Farm, Heavitree Brewery, National Trust (Killerton, Knightshayes, Alaronde and Castle Drogo), Bicton, World of Country Life, Debenhams, House of Fraser, Marks and Spencer, Urban Outfitters, John Wills, Zara, John Lewis (2012), Tesco, Sainsbury, Waitrose, Apple, Next, Monsoon and Reiss.

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Main Business Functions

• Distribution/ logistics/ warehousing
• Business services/ offices
• Headquarters/ regional offices
• Advanced manufacturing
• Research & development