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Key Themes and Priority Actions

Improving Skills

Developing the workforce is vital to underpinning our growth aspirations whilst improving the quality of life for all our residents. In the current economic recession, it is particularly important that we extend our work on supporting those who are out of work, upskilling our resident population and building on the higher level skills in the workforce to support new growth sectors.

Our strategy is:

  • To raise the numbers of residents attaining higher level skills (NVQ2, 3 and 4+)

  • Better coordination amongst public sector agencies to engage with those in our communities currently excluded from the workforce

  • Looking for ways to support initiatives to tackle low achievement in schools so as to ensure that our future workforce is given full opportunity to access relevant learning and develop skills important to the sub-region in the future

Promoting Enterprise and Innovation

Enterprise and innovation are key drivers of productivity and economic growth. We have some excellent growth sectors, such as marine and advanced engineering and the presence of a strong HE sector. A high level skills and knowledge base, good networks and key sites for new developments, means that we are in a superb position to build these sectors, particularly in relation to innovation and new growth areas.

We want to:

  • Ensure we understand the business needs of our key sectors

  • Target support in the way they need it

  • Promote specific initiatives that will strengthen knowledge transfer from PUSH’s four universities and encourage spin-off enterprise, building on the work of Solent Synergy, as it becomes part of the new Innovation and Growth Team (IGT)

  • Ensure South Hampshire is one of the best connected parts of the UK in terms of access to ICT, wireless and broadband infrastructure

  • Unlock the potential for South Hampshire to be at the cutting edge of the environmental technologies sector, contributing both to the economy and supporting sustainability objectives

Enabling Business Growth

To deliver economic growth it is vital that investment in businesses grows and that we retain and support local businesses. PUSH and its partners are committed to raising the game on Inward Investment, including greater alignment and streamlining across South Hampshire. A clearer strategic approach, more dedicated development capacity, better support and after-care services is needed to encourage relocating companies to grow and explore branding and marketing potential.

Providing Sites and Premises

The delivery of a new employment hub at Eastleigh Riverside is of the highest priority. We will also support the bringing forward of suitable employment sites and premises across the sub-region (for example at Tipner in Portsmouth), included within the proposed two new strategic development areas, urban extensions and key regeneration sites.

We will also invest to support work in cross-cutting areas of economic development such as:

  • Supporting key sectors and clusters

  • Engaging the business community through the PUSH Business Group

  • Improving coordination of public sector activity

  • Ensuring capacity to deliver (PUSH now has a dedicated Economic Development Director)

  • Sustainability (economic growth cannot be at all costs)

  • Equality and targeting to ensure our aspirations are delivered in a way that is inclusive and provides opportunity for all, including maximising the contribution of our existing resident population

Inward Investment

PUSH is committed to securing future investment and employment into South Hampshire, by providing a free and comprehensive relocation service for potential investors and businesses.

This is provided by Invest in Portsmouth led by the Harbour Economic Development Forum (representing Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport and Havant) and Invest in Southampton (representing Southampton, Eastleigh, New Forest, Test Valley and Winchester). Together they provide a joint property register covering South Hampshire helping people to search for the right commercial premises.

They offer a professional and bespoke service and can help in the following areas;

  • Demographic information and details about the local economic

  • Tailored information on skills, industry strengths and living in the region

  • Organised tours showcasing the region offer to investors  

  • Information on useful business networks

  • Information on local authority contacts

The service is available to companies/businesses, agents and professional advisers looking at relocation or expansion in South Hampshire.

To speak to a member of the Economic Development Team about your relocation requirements please call 023 8083 2587.

Businesses moving to the area often require ongoing support and assistance to ensure the relocation proves successful. With this in mind, a team of dedicated Investor Development Managers are available to provide a comprehensive 'aftercare' service. To speak to a member of the team please call 023 8076 8833.