Room to grow.Ready to go.
The South West gives businesses room to grow: sites, skills, clean power and a great quality of life, with one team to help you invest.
A South West regional partnership
Space to build.
Power to run it.
The South West is a large, connected region with land for new development, a growing clean energy base and research strengths in defence, life sciences and space. Investors get one front door and partners who work as one region.
Room to grow
Employment land, science parks, enterprise zones and freeport tax sites, from city edges to coastal ports. Sites for labs, factories, data and logistics.
Clean power
New nuclear at Hinkley Point C, floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, and geothermal energy and lithium in Cornwall. Low-carbon power and the supply chains that come with it.
Skills and research
Universities in Exeter, Plymouth, Bournemouth and Falmouth. National labs at Porton Down. The Met Office in Exeter. Technical Excellence Colleges for defence in Plymouth and Yeovil.
Quality of life
Two national parks, the Jurassic Coast and an Atlantic and Channel coastline. Places people want to live, which helps you hire and keep talent.
Connected to the UK and the world
M4, M5, A303 and A30 road links. Mainline rail to London. Airports at Exeter, Newquay and Bournemouth. Ports at Plymouth, Poole, Portland and Falmouth.
Investment already under way
Major public and private projects are already changing the region's economy. They create supply chain, skills and site opportunities for the businesses that follow.
- Bridgwater, SomersetAgratas battery gigafactory
£380m of government investment in one of Europe's largest planned battery cell plants, expected to create more than 4,200 direct jobs.1
- Celtic SeaFloating offshore wind
Three 1.5GW floating wind sites now under lease off South Wales and the South West: up to 4.5GW in the first phase.2
- Plymouth, DevonDefence Growth Deal
£50m to expand Plymouth's strengths in maritime autonomy and defence skills, alongside HM Naval Base Devonport.3
- Somerset coastHinkley Point C
New nuclear power station with Unit 1 planned to operate from 2030. More than 1,700 apprentices trained, most from the South West.4
- CornwallCritical minerals
A £43m geothermal lithium facility backed by the government's DRIVE35 fund, part of a growing minerals cluster.5
- Goonhilly, CornwallDeep space communications
Goonhilly Earth Station provides deep space communications for the UK Space Agency and international partners.6
- Porton Down, WiltshirePorton Science Park
Labs and grow-on space next to Dstl and the UK Health Security Agency, with Life Sciences Opportunity Zone status.7
- Winfrith, DorsetDorset Innovation Park
Enterprise zone with a dedicated delivery company, aiming for 300 new jobs on site by 2029.8
Sectors with room to grow
Our sector focus matches the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy. Choose a sector to see what is here and where.
Clean energy
From new nuclear to floating wind, the South West is building a big part of the UK's future energy system.
- Hinkley Point C in Somerset, with Unit 1 planned to operate from 2030.
- The first commercial floating offshore wind sites in the Celtic Sea, up to 4.5GW.
- Geothermal energy and lithium extraction in Cornwall's granite.
- Supply chain openings in fabrication, marine services, grid and storage.
Defence, security and cyber
A long-standing defence base that is moving fast into autonomy, cyber and dual-use technology.
- HM Naval Base Devonport and Plymouth's Defence Growth Deal for maritime autonomy.
- Dstl at Porton Down: defence science, chemical and biological security.
- Helicopter design and manufacture in Yeovil, and Defence Technical Excellence Colleges in Plymouth and Yeovil.
- Training estates and test ranges on land and at sea.
Advanced engineering
High-value manufacturing, from battery cells to aerospace and marine systems.
- The Agratas gigafactory in Bridgwater, with more than 4,200 direct jobs expected.
- Aerospace and rotorcraft engineering in Somerset.
- Marine manufacturing and boatbuilding around Poole, Plymouth and Falmouth.
- Supplier opportunities in automation, materials and precision engineering.
Space, data and communications
A peninsula with clear access to the Atlantic, the skies and global data links.
- Goonhilly Earth Station: commercial deep space communications.
- Spaceport Cornwall at Cornwall Airport Newquay.
- The Met Office in Exeter: weather and climate science and supercomputing.
- Subsea cable landings and data infrastructure on the Cornish coast.
Life sciences and health
Specialist science with national importance, from infectious disease to medtech.
- Porton Down: Dstl and the UK Health Security Agency.
- Porton Science Park, with Life Sciences Opportunity Zone status.
- Medical and health research at the universities of Exeter and Plymouth.
- Health and medtech companies working with regional NHS trusts.
Digital, creative and fintech
Growing digital and creative clusters, backed by specialist universities.
- Digital, fintech and financial services businesses in Bournemouth and Poole.
- Animation, games and visual effects talent from Bournemouth.
- Creative technology at Falmouth University.
- Remote-friendly firms drawn by quality of life and fast-improving connectivity.
Agri-tech, food and drink
Some of England's most productive farmland, and the science to farm it better.
- Grassland and livestock research, including Rothamsted's North Wyke farm in Devon.
- Dairy, meat, cider, seafood and speciality food producers.
- Room for agri-robotics, precision farming and food processing.
- Land-based colleges supplying skills.
Blue and green economy, tourism
A coastline and landscape that support marine industries, natural capital and a strong visitor economy.
- Marine autonomy testing, ports and offshore services.
- The UK's first National Marine Park in Plymouth Sound.
- Sustainable aquaculture, nature recovery and natural capital projects.
- Year-round tourism and hospitality, from cities to coast.
Built around national priorities
We work alongside the Department for Business and Trade and its Office for Investment so that investors get joined-up support from national and local government.
Industrial Strategy
Government is targeting investment at eight growth-driving sectors (the IS-8). Clean energy, defence, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, digital and creative are all strengths here.1
Lower power costs
From 2027 the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme aims to cut electricity costs for around 10,000 eligible manufacturers by about a quarter.1
Faster sites
The Strategic Sites Accelerator and planning reform aim to bring investment-ready sites to market sooner. We will put South West sites forward.1
Find your site
Tell us what you need
Land, buildings, power, water, labour market or planning timescales. Share your requirements and we will come back with a shortlist from across the region.
Send your requirements- Plymouth and South Devon FreeportFreeportTax sites for marine, defence and advanced manufacturing.
- Dorset Innovation Park, WinfrithEnterprise zoneSpace for defence, marine and energy technology businesses.
- Aerohub, Cornwall Airport NewquayEnterprise zoneAviation and space-related sites next to Spaceport Cornwall.
- Porton Science Park, SalisburyScience parkLabs, offices and development land for life sciences and defence technology.
- Bridgwater and the M5 corridorGrowth areaSupply chain opportunities around the gigafactory and Hinkley Point C.
One team to help you invest
Our service is free and confidential. We work with local councils, universities and businesses across the region, so you deal with one team.
Talk to us
Tell us about your project, timing and what you need from a location. We keep it confidential.
Get a proposal
We send a tailored shortlist of sites, with labour market, skills and sector data.
Visit
We plan a visit programme with site owners, universities, suppliers and local partners.
Land and grow
After you arrive we help with recruitment, skills, supply chains, planning and future expansion.
A place people choose to live
Skilled people move here and stay. That makes it easier to recruit and keep a strong team.
- Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks, and protected landscapes across the region.
- World Heritage Sites including the Jurassic Coast, Stonehenge and the Cornish mining landscape.
- The UK's first National Marine Park in Plymouth Sound.
- Market towns, coastal cities and rural communities, with homes for every stage of life.
Head South West
Planning a new site, an expansion or a development? Talk to our team in confidence.
Email hello@southwestinvest.co.ukInvestors and growing businesses
Site searches, data, introductions and visit programmes.
Agents and developers
Share your sites and schemes so we can match them with demand.
Meet us at UKREiiF
Find the team at UKREiiF 2027 in Leeds. Stand details coming soon.