South West

Like the South East, the South West is a key economic region, with a strong knowledge economy and a well-developed service sector. Advanced engineering is a particularly important sector in the region, which is home to the largest aerospace industry in the UK (the third largest in Europe).

Bristol is the most important city, due to its location on the M4 motorway, which connects it with London. The Cotswolds, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall are magnets for tourism, which is a major earner for the region. The British army also has a number of bases here, including the Royal Marines in Devon and land forces on Salisbury Plain. There is also a large defence industry around Bristol.

South West

Economy

Total output (GDP), 2019	£163 billion
GDP per head	£29,147

Businesses

Number of businesses, 2021	522,300
Annual % change in businesses, 2021	-7,15%

Import (2020)

Value goods from the world: £20.7 billion
Value goods from the Netherlands: £1.5 bn (% of total UK imports)
Main partners: United States, Germany, China
Main products: advanced engineering & aerospace, professional services, high tech Industry, low carbon, creative + digital media and tourism.

Export (2020)

Value goods from the world: £17.9 billion
Value goods from the Netherlands: £0.5 billion (% of total UK exports)
Main partners: United States, Germany, France
Main products: advanced engineering & aerospace, professional services, high tech Industry, low carbon, creative + digital media and tourism.