South Gloucestershire has one of the fastest growing economies in the country with an estimated 30,000 jobs being generated between 1996 and 2006, predominantly in the Bristol North Fringe area. There were an estimated 150,000 persons employed in South Gloucestershire in April 2006. Key sectors
For many years the economy of South Gloucestershire has been closely associated with the aerospace industry with Airbus UK based in Filton and Rolls Royce in Patchway. The aerospace industry is a key economic sector employing as it does some 11,000 workers. Major projects include the design and manufacture of wings for Airbus and the design and manufacture of military jet engines.
Other significant manufacturing industries in South Gloucestershire include electronics, engineering and packaging. Local and central government (the Ministry of Defence), the health sector, retailing, higher education (the University of the West of England) and further education and telecommunications are also well represented. Companies expanding in recent years include Airbus UK, the RAC and Cornhill Direct which are all located in Bristol North Fringe. Manufacturing jobs continue to be lost with several major companies closing in recent years including Intier Automotive and Hibernia Brands.
Major employment areas
The development of the regional shopping centre at Cribbs Causeway, the relocation of major companies from Bristol like AXA and Royal Mail and large scale business park development have established Bristol North Fringe as one of the largest employment areas in the South West. The relocation of the Defence Procurement Agency to Abbey Wood in the late 1990s brought over 6,000 jobs to the North Fringe and the proposed move of the Defence Logistics Organisation will bring a further 1,500 jobs.
Kingswood, Yate and Thornbury contain well established industrial areas providing local employment opportunities.
Prominent companies in the area of Kingswood, Warmley and Hanham include Knorr-Bremse and Alcan Packaging.
Almost 200 companies occupy premises on the five industrial estates in Yate. These are Great Western Business Park, Stover Trading Estate, Beeches Trading Estate, Badminton Road Trading Estate and Westerleigh Business Park. Major employers in Yate and Chipping Sodbury include Indesit, Smurfit Yate, Jordan Engineering, Mead Westvaco, Sharp Interpack and Hanson Quarry Products.
Thornbury Industrial Estate is home to over 50 companies including Essilor and Alexandra Workwear.
AstraZeneca, Terra Nitrogen (UK) and Constellation Europe are major employers in the Severnside area.
Unemployment
Unemployment levels have remained relatively constant at around 1,500 over the past five years -in February 2007 the rate stood at 1.1% in contrast to a British average of 2.6%. Only two of the 35 wards in South Gloucestershire had an unemployment rate of over 2.5% in February 2007.
Managing growth
While the scale and pace of economic growth has brought prosperity it has also created major challenges with a substantial increase in traffic, pressure on the transport infrastructure and pressure for more housing on greenfield sites. A key issue is how to manage the scale, pace and location of development so as to safeguard the quality of life for people living and working in South Gloucestershire.
South Gloucestershire Annual Economic Review
The Annual Economic Review presents local business news and information on important economic and employment indicators and trends like the number of people in employment, unemployment and skills shortages. To view a copy of the latest review please click on the link opposite.