Other Devon Sectors

Tourism

The South West region is the UK’s third largest visitor economy, with Devon playing a key role in attracting visitors who spend over £2.5BN per year.

  • As a top UK tourist destination and a growing tourist economy, the scope for this sector to expand in Devon continues.
  • Devon’s natural capital and rich environment plays a key role in making Devon a UK destination of choice.
  • Sustainable and managed tourism is fast becoming a priority, introducing initiatives which enable high-value tourism while at the same time taking steps to reduce the impact of tourism on the natural capital, environment and heritage.

Visit South West – The Official Guide to South West England
Visit Devon | Holidays in Devon UK | Official Tourist Board

Environmental Sciences

With the MET Office and the University of Exeter we have a globally significant concentration of climate and environmental scientists. The University of Exeter was amongst the first Universities in the UK to declare a Climate and Environment Emergency in 2019 and has hundreds of academics working in climate science and related disciplines as well as a new Institute dedicated to Global Systems. With extensive research and development, the resulting knowledge, talent, and innovation, is helping inform investment decisions.

The University of Exeter includes the UK’s 5 most influential climate scientists, the only UK climate scientists to secure places in in the global top 21 – according to a prestigious new list (Reuters Hot List) and Exeter staff are providing the technical lead for the Government’s 3rd UK Climate Change Risk Assessment. The University has assembled a team of over 500 researchers and professionals working across climate change and the environment and they include some of the world’s leading academics.

Explore Green Futures with Exeter University.

Professional Services

As business activity expands so does the professional sector that supports it, from financial services, accountancy and insurance through to legal and engineering services.

Agritech

A collaboration of expertise across this sector are driving change, innovation and technological solutions in traditional agriculture and helping to develop new markets like Aquaculture to the coastline of the South West. 

Agri-tech research is driven by the Food Security and Land Research Alliance, comprising Exeter University, Devon’s Rothamsted North Wyke Farm Platform Rothamsted Research | Global Science, Bath and Bristol Universities and Duchy College. The Alliance makes ground-breaking discoveries in global food security, crop, soil and land management, animal health and marine science, attracting business partners from across the world.

The University of Plymouth is also a global leader in robot crop picking technology.

SW AgriTech South West AgriTech – a strong network of over 200 agritech companies, led by LEP funding, is a dynamic agri-food grouping with scientific research, engineering, manufacturing and high-tech industries at its core.

SWAN – SWAN South West Aquaculture Network provide key development and collaboration opportunities in this new sector.

The Trade & Agriculture Commission report will lead to further enhancement of the Agri/food sector. Trade and Agriculture Commission Report

Specialist Manufacturing

A key priority for the region and embraced by Devon. Specialised manufacturing is fast becoming a trademark of Devon. Traditionally in Mid-Devon and Teignbridge this sector is now very present across Devon.

Health and care

Transformative Healthcare throughout Devon has begun to grow and anticipated to continue, recently contributing around £1BN annually to the Devon economy, having been included in the recent ‘Build Back Better’ Plan.

Lifestyle

With a passion for the outdoors, many fashion and lifestyle brands have been inspired to start, or set-up in Devon including:

  • Jack Wills – Heritage fashion and lifestyle brand
  • Bird Eyewear – Fashionable ethical brand of sunglasses
  • Shoes – Rainbow Club Rainbow Clube shoes (a royal favourite)
  • Crew – British lifestyle brand for classic style with a coastal twist
  • Saltrock – Fashionable clothing, with surf inspired designs
  • Quba – Nautical inspired clothing and accessories
  • Lazy Jacks – Sailing inspired clothing and accessories
  • Dewerstone – Outdoor lifestyle clothing from the heart of Dartmoor
  • Sancho’s – Sustainable and ethical fashion
  • Diamond Beach – Coastal clothes and beach accessories
  • Rudd Wellies – Riding wellies, clothes and accessories

Nuclear

  • A key component of the ‘Build Back Better’ Plan HOTSW-Build Back Better
  • The South West is set to become a nuclear hub in the next two decades, with projects worth £50 billion to our economy.
  • Key focus is Hinkley Point in Somerset, but the need for supply chain businesses will benefit the whole South West region.
  • For more info, see Nuclear South West

Related Case Studies

Securious

Securious helps its clients use cyber security to open new doors, protect their reputation and keep customers across Devon, the South West and beyond happy by helping them improve systems, achieve accreditations and educate their teams.

The Donkey Sanctuary

The Donkey Sanctuary is the most influential donkey welfare charity in the world. Founded by Dr Elisabeth Svendsen MBE, who dedicated her life to championing donkeys, the charity has grown from an organisation rescuing UK donkeys from neglect and abuse, to an international presence.

Bird Eyewear

Bird make beautiful, handcrafted eyewear using sustainable materials, and for every pair sold, the company gives solar light to remote communities in Africa through their ‘Share Your Sun’ partnership with SolarAid.

Sungift Solar

Solutions for a low carbon way of life.
SunGift Solar designs and installs top quality, bespoke clean energy solutions, including solar PV, energy storage, LED lighting, and EV charging.

Bishop Fleming

Bishop Fleming is a leading provider of audit, accounting, tax and business consultancy in the UK. It is a leading advisor to privately owned businesses in the South West and is the number one provider of professional services to Academy Trusts in the UK.

Amberon

Amberon have over 19 years’ experience providing traffic management services and we are currently operating from 28 depots nationwide with a total of 800 employees.
HEL

HEL Performance Products

We exist in a very niche marketplace – we manufacture braking products for the automotive industry. We machine all of our mainline stainless steel and aluminium products on our own CNC machines a few miles outside of Exeter.
crowd cube image

Crowdcube

“Devon is in Crowdcube’s DNA,” says Luke Lang, co-founder of Europe’s biggest crowdfunding platform.

university of exeter

Exeter University

The University of Exeter is a top Russell Group university that combines world-class research with high levels of student satisfaction in the heart of the South West. The University has four main campuses across Devon and Cornwall with over 25,000 students and 5,000 staff members from over 130 countries.
Working at desk

SITU

Since 2008, SITU have stood at the forefront of the corporate accommodation industry, sourcing serviced apartments worldwide for a diverse range of clients.
Tree Surgery

Hi-Line Contractors SW Ltd

Established in 1998 we are one of the UK’s leading Arboricultural companies. We are a family run business, employing over 250 people, from apprentices to consultants.

Met Office supercomputer

Met Office

Founded in 1854 the Met Office were established to save lives and help the UK economy thrive. Their Founder, Captain, (later Vice-Admiral), Robert FitzRoy, did this by pushing the boundaries of science and technology. Those principles are still with the Met Office today.
Supported by Devon County Council