The cities of Bristol and Bath have distinctive identities and, together with Weston-super-Mare and other centres, make up a sub-region of approximately one million inhabitants. The West of England is comprised of four authorities: City of Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The area supports levels of prosperity and rates of growth above regional and national averages and its economy is the largest in the South West accounting for 26% of regional output.
National and international connectivity has significantly improved with the expansion of Bristol International Airport located eight miles south west of Bristol and the seaport at Avonmouth and Royal Portbury on the Bristol Channel. In addition to plans for enhancing these facilities, including a new deep-water container terminal at Avonmouth, the area is to further benefit from £300 million of investments in transport infrastructure focusing on Greater Bristol, Weston-super-Mare and Bath.
The West of England’s considerable commercial diversity includes environmental technologies and services, science and innovation in high-tech and engineering, and a globally recognised creative sector.
Environmental Technologies and Services
This fast growing sector constitutes a diverse mix of high-tech knowledge-based businesses, consultancies, industrial operations and non-government organisations, with a strong service and educational base. The West of England is a hub for the headquarters of national and international organisations including the Soil Association, Sustrans, Compact Power and Garrad Hassan.
Amongst exciting new developments, Bristol City Council has recently given ABS Biodiesel the go-ahead for plans to build the UK's largest biofuel production facility at Avonmouth Docks. ABS will be investing over £21 million in the new 24,500 sq ft facility, on three acres of undeveloped land at Bristol Port.
The University of Bristol and the University of the West of England are at the forefront of research and innovation, and are collaborating with business through R&D and in high-tech, high-growth spin out ventures. These include Advanced Transport Systems, whose ‘ULTra’ product has been selected for trials as the preferred Personal Rapid Transport system for Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, and Tidal Generation providing energy from tidal flows.
A dynamic local initiative of public and private sector partners supports the sector. The Bristol Environmental Technologies and Services network will be co-ordinating actions on technological partnering, promotion and business engagement.
Science and Innovation
The West of England is at the forefront of scientific discovery and innovation with Bristol being one of only six cities in England awarded the title of ‘Science City’.
The sub-region can boast world-class scientific research in the university sector. The combined strengths of the four Universities of Bristol, Bath, West of England and Bath Spa create one of the most powerful research environments in the UK with science and advanced engineering a core strength. In the commercial arena, this sector is one of the largest employers and contributors to the sub-region’s GVA. Companies including Airbus, Orange, Hewlett-Packard and Rolls-Royce have a significant presence and are complemented by a strong cluster of advanced engineering companies and suppliers.
To further enhance the science profile, the Bristol and Bath Science Park (SPark) is being developed on a 22-hectare site, supported by a £300 million investment led by the South West of England Regional Development Agency. SPark will be comparable in size and scope with the best in the UK, include a dedicated innovation centre and is expected to create 6,000 jobs when complete.
Support for this sector includes the West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF). This regional association champions the interests of the aerospace and defence industry and leads in delivering competitiveness and critical support services programmes to the SME community.
Creative industries
Bristol and Bath combine their distinctive offers to provide a pre-eminent European centre of creative and cultural industry with a global profile. Home to the multiple Oscar-winning Aardman Animations, creators of the world famous characters Wallace and Gromit, the BBC Natural History Unit, Granada Wild, Endemol West and many independent production companies, the sector attracted investment from externally based film commissioners of £23 million in 2006. Bristol is the world capital of the wildlife and environmental film industry and is responsible for 25% of this sector’s global output.
Recent developments have seen the sub-region leading the field in creative technology and a new collaborative initiative between creative and technology sectors. The Creative Technology Network runs a year-round programme of events, workshops and showcases to share good practice, support innovation and enhance research from industries spanning from broadcasting, games and animation to design, visualisation and mobile media.
CONTACT POINT
West of England Inward Investment Team
Invest West, West of England Partnership
5th Floor, Wilder House
Wilder Street
Bristol BS2 8PH
Tel: +44-(0)117-903 6863
Fax: +44-(0)117-903 6859
E-mail: investwest@westofengland.org
Web: www.investwest.orgSupport organisations:
Environmental: www.bristol.gov.uk/bets
Aerospace: www.weaf.co.uk
Creative: www.creativetechnologynetwork.co.uk
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