Sectors

Plymouth was selected as one of seven City Growth Strategy pilot areas in England that aim to stimulate the regeneration of urban areas by focusing on their economic strengths and competitive advantages. An important part of the process was the identification and development of business clusters, examining the existing strength of these sectors in the city, their growth potential, and their fit with local strategic priorities. Three of the priority sectors were identified as follows:

Creative industries

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport defines the creative industries as ‘those industries which have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent and which have a potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property. This includes advertising, architecture, the art and antiques market, crafts, design, designer fashion, film and video, interactive leisure software, music, the performing arts, publishing, software and computer games, television and radio.’

Marine industries

The South West of England Regional Development Agency recognises the Marine Sector as being divided into three distinct areas:

• Boat Building and Marine Leisure
• Marine Engineering
• Marine Sciences

and includes fisheries and aquaculture, ship design, construction and repair, offshore and coastal engineering, transportation systems, diving operations, dredging, pollution control, waste treatment, renewable energy, coastal development, marine technologies, research, marine tourism and leisure-related service providers and industries.

Medical and healthcare

According to UK Trade and Investment, the Government organisation that supports UK companies trading internationally and overseas enterprises seeking to locate in the UK, the choice of the UK by overseas companies as an inward investment location and subsequent success in medical systems markets is due to the support of its strong scientific and technological traditions in areas such as information technology, materials science and biotechnology.

Further information on the Creative Industries, Marine Industries and Medical and Healthcare sectors may be found on subsequent pages.

Whilst recognising the above sectors as being significant in the economic and regeneration progress of Plymouth, the Invest in Plymouth Team considers all investment enquiries important, and welcomes the opportunity to assist with any request for assistance.