Exeter City Council - Relocation to Exeter

What can Exeter and the Heart of Devon can offer a relocating company?

In case you have missed these points in the national press:

• Overall, a very successful economy
• A fast growing leading university with a national and international reputation for ground-breaking research
• Financial benefits based on comparative labour, property-related and operational costs
• Good access by rail, road and air
• A loyal, flexible and highly qualified workforce
• Proven advantages for recruitment and retention
• Highest level of IT communications capacity and capability
• Successful and effective working partnerships between local private and public sectors
• An excellent quality of life and one of the main cultural centres in the region

PROFITABLE LOCATION

Exeter is a Cathedral city with a population of nearly 120,000. It is a progressive, thriving regional centre and one of the most profitable locations for business in the country. The city is at the heart of a wider economic region of some 450,000 people and more than 17,500 businesses with 175,000 employees.

Known as the 'city in the country', Exeter is close to many areas of outstanding natural beauty with Dartmoor and a stunning coastline within easy reach.

Exeter and its neighbours have a combined economic strategy to maintain and enhance the competitive position of the wider area.

WHERE IS EXETER?

Exeter is centrally located in the south-west of England. By train, London is just over two hours away and Bristol is only one hour away. Exeter is close to many areas of outstanding natural beauty with Dartmoor and beaches within easy reach. Exeter's International airport has seen much expansion in recent years.

MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS

• Plans for a Science Park are taking shape - this high profile strategic employment site will have particular interest to those companies seeking innovative and incubation support as well as those at the forefront of technological scientific research.
• The development of Sky Park – an extensive business and industrial park, close to the motorway – is also progressing
• The 530,000ft² predominantly retail city centre redevelopment of Princesshay is due to be completed in late 2007 adding 60 new shops and restaurants to this already successful regional hub.

And, Exeter has a growing reputation for academic, scientific and technical expertise.

THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

As a 'top 20 university', the University of Exeter is continuing its record of investing in, and conducting, leading edge research. Investment in new research has attracted world-class scholars to Exeter to continue to develop its research success.

A growing number of Exeter's professorial staff are Fellows of the British Academy or the Royal Society, the premier distinction for UK scholars in the humanities and social sciences and the sciences respectively.

The University has a close and mutually profitable relationship with a number of commercial and non-commercial organisations ranging from local businesses to international operations in specialist fields. Its efforts to work with industry to turn academic research into marketable products and services have been recognised by the DTI through an award for exemplary performance resulting in significant benefit to all parties.

Continuation of phase 2 of the successful Innovation Centre is scheduled to be completed by November 2007, trebling it in size to 53,000ft², offering business units and specialist advice for new and growing companies within the research and development sector.

GREAT WESTERN RESEARCH

Exeter is leading a groundbreaking £14m research partnership of South West universities to boost research in areas of economic importance to the region. With Bristol and Bath universities as lead partners along with the other ten South West higher institutions, and with the support of the South West of England Regional Development Agency and HEFCE, Great Western Research creating new research opportunities, including PhD studentships. Researchers are involved in: materials research, nanotechnology, sustainability, cognitive neuroscience and economic psychology.

PENINSULA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY

The Peninsula College is a unique partnership between the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth and the NHS within Devon and Cornwall. The College delivers Undergraduate and Master programmes.

Its award-winning reputation for innovative teaching and excellence in research now attracts global interest. Pioneering work has transformed the treatment of hundreds of patients with monogenic diabetes, releasing them from the need to inject insulin.

THE MET OFFICE

As an international meteorological service, the Met Office plays a major role within the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and other intergovernmental organisations. The Met Office is involved in many areas of research and development in the fields of atmospheric and oceanic sciences and observations. The growing global population, poverty, access to fresh water, and food production are inextricably linked to climate change and to weather and climate-related natural disasters.

YOUR NEXT STEP…

If you are interested in finding out more about Exeter, contact our Economic Development team at Exeter City Council.