Around the UK - South West

Led by our South West representative, e-skills UK has been working with key partners in the region to deliver on the objectives outlined in our strategic plan for England.

Latest LMI

• There are 9,160 workplaces in the IT & Telecoms industry in the South West – 93% of which are IT companies and 7% Telecoms. In the IT industry in the region, a small number of large firms employ a large proportion of the workforce; micro firms make up 95% of the number of IT & Telecoms businesses in the South West, but just 31% of the actual workforce. By contrast, firms with 200 or more employees make up less than 1% of the total number of workplaces, but employ 35% of the workforce.
• 120,000 people employed in the South West work in the IT & Telecoms workforce. This comprises around 62,000 in the IT & Telecoms industry itself, and a further 58,000 working as IT or Telecoms professionals in other industries.
• The profile of IT & Telecoms professionals in the region is an ageing one. The proportion aged 16-29 has dropped from 27% in 2001 to 25% in 2007, as the sector favours experienced workers from other sectors over young recruits from the education system.
• The IT & Telecoms workforce in the South West is highly qualified. 54% of IT & Telecoms professionals hold a qualification at level 4 or higher, compared to 31% for the overall working population there. Moreover, only 5% of IT & Telecoms professionals in the area are not qualified to level 2, compared to 12% of the South West’s employed workforce.
  

For the latest analysis of key labour market intelligence specific to the South West, please refer to the 'Technology Counts England: IT and Telecoms Insights 2008' report. The report provides an in depth understanding of the existing IT & Telecoms landscape in the nine English regions, with forecasts of the future based on the best available global intelligence.

ICT policy for the region

There is strong evidence that ICT support is a key requirement for the South West. Findings from a survey commissioned by the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) showed that whilst there had been wider acceptance of ICT by businesses, the job was by no means complete with businesses in the South West continuing to see ICT as a cost and not as a means of reducing costs. 

Similarly, the SWRDA Benchmarking Research concludes that 'A significant proportion of businesses appear to lack IT skills within their organisation, with 34% having no internal
resource and a further 24% being dependant on an IT enthusiast. This shortage could act as a barrier preventing them from realising the full benefits of their ICT investments'.

The South West Regional Economic Strategy (RES) also highlights the need to fully exploit the potential of ICT to overcome issues of connectivity and accessibility and to reduce the need to travel to work or do business.

Last modified: 30 Jun 2009