West of England priority growth sectors

18,000 people are employed in this sector across the region. Major employers like Airbus, BAE, Rolls Royce and GKN are based in the West of England.

Advanced Manufacturing is worth £2.9bn in the West of England economy.

• NCC provides access to state-of-theart equipment to transfer digital and AI research capability into frontier technologies
• Project Acorn is pioneering hydrogen fuel, paving the way for decarbonisation of air travel, bringing together partners including Bristol Airport and IAAPS
• GKN’s Global Technology Centre is driving next-generation aerospace manufacturing, accelerating the adoption of advanced processes and materials in global supply
• Rolls Royce’s Ultrafan is delivering the world’s most efficient large-scale aircraft engine technology, setting new benchmarks for fuel efficiency and emissions reduction
• Airbus’s Zero Emission Development Centre is advancing hydrogen propulsion systems, supporting the transition to netzero aviation through breakthrough design and engineering
• The FoodWorks Innovation Centre provides access to technology and specialist advice for growing and innovative food and drink production companies from across the globe

Advanced Materials, Robotics, and Engineering → Launchpad for innovation led supply chains for Clean Energy Industries like Floating Offshore Wind and Small Modular Reactors.

AI-enabled assurance in advanced manufacturing process, satellite communications and simulation technologies → Cutting factory time and cost attributed to material assurance and certification: Shaping new global standards and securing first-mover advantage.

Satellite communications and simulation technologies → Supporting grid balancing, climate modelling, and logistics optimisation, crucial to green energy rollout.

The West of England leads the charge in clean energy innovation. From community energy to SMRs, tidal, hydrogen, and advanced wind, the region is shaping the future of sustainable power. Rolls-Royce SMR is a preferred bidder for the UK’s first Small Modular Reactor programme, backed by world-class R&D from the region’s universities and the South West Nuclear Hub. The Bristol Composites Institute and NCC are pioneering next-gen turbine tech and circular blade solutions, positioning the region at the heart of the UK’s floating offshore wind sector - with Bristol Port primed as a strategic base.

Our Clean Energy Industries are building a worldclass hydrogen economy. Hydrogen South West – which includes partners like Airbus, GKN Aerospace, Bristol Airport, and Wessex Water - is driving innovation across aviation, freight, energy, and skills. The University of Bath’s IAAPS leads on hydrogen propulsion, while the NCC pioneers cryogenic storage tech. Bath also heads UK-HyRES, aiming to deliver practical hydrogen and alternative fuel solutions at global scale.

Clean propulsion is a global strength for the West of England. With deep expertise in decarbonising aviation, shipping, and logistics – especially at Bristol Airport. The region drives innovation through major employers, leading universities, and specialist R&D. The impact ripples across transport and energy sectors.

The West of England is scaling clean energy use. A booming retrofit and heat network market is cutting emissions, tackling fuel poverty, and boosting building performance. Local authorities, housing associations, and SMEs are driving delivery - powered by skilled installers and smart monitoring tech.

Our region is primed to power the UK’s clean energy transition. With strengths in generation, utilisation, and retrofit - backed by industry, R&D, and active supply chains - the region is driving innovation and long-term growth.

CASE STUDY: LAWRENCE WESTON WIND TURBINE

The ACE Wind Turbine was the brainchild of Ambition Lawrence Weston, a local charity, which identified the potential to develop a wind turbine on locally owned land in 2016. With support from the Mayoral Combined Authority, the turbine is now in full operation. The 4.2MWs generated by the turbine produces enough low carbon electricity to power 3,500 homes. The turbine also experimented with new technology, including edge serrations to reduce the noise emitted, and flat back air foils that improve lift and reduce the effects of blade soiling and the accompanying loss of performance.

The ACE Wind Turbine enables the community of Lawrence Weston to benefit from surplus income from the sale of renewable energy, supporting their work to tackle fuel poverty and improve the local environment.

Around 400 high-growth companies already operate here. Jobs across this sector are growing rapidly, up 140% in the past 10 years. It will be a major part of our economic future.

Clean and green energy underpins our transition to net zero and offers long-term potential for investment, innovation and growth.

• Bristol City Leap is a pioneering public–private partnership driving a £1 billion programme of low-carbon energy infrastructure, creating green jobs, cutting emissions. It’s part of our innovative approach to low carbon energy, also including adoption of heat networks and our Heat from Mines project.
• Community energy is already strong in the West of England. 2025 figures show that 48MW or just over 12% of the total community energy generation for England already comes from our region.
• The region has hosted climate-saving nuclear energy since Oldbury Power Station opened in 1967, generating 137 terawatt hours and avoiding over 80 million tonnes of CO2. The Oldbury site, now owned by Great British Energy-Nuclear, is a candidate for Small Modular Reactor deployment
• Leadership in developing next-generation hydrogen storage and advanced wind turbine technologies

Large-scale programmes to decarbonise homes, schools, and hospitals → Creating thousands of local jobs in construction, installation, and maintenance, accessible to a wide range of skill levels.

Clean propulsion systems for buses, freight, and delivery services → Generating demand for mechanics, drivers, and supply chain workers, strengthening everyday service.

A growing portfolio of clean energy – such as Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) presents a major economic opportunity for the West of England → This will create high-value jobs, attract supply chain investment, and position the region as a leader in clean and green energy innovation and advanced engineering.

Growing capability in rooftop solar development and installation → Vital to green construction and the growing community energy sector.

Bristol’s UNESCO Creative City of Film status reflects decades of world-class screen production, and Bath has enormous appeal as a filming location as well as strengths in digital publishing and content production.

Our creative industries are growing. The impact on our economy and the creation of a diverse range of jobs is a regional asset that is set to grow further over the decade ahead . In 2022, natural history content alone generated £127.2 million - 44% of the city’s £288 million screen industries turnover - and content made here is watched by more than 800 million people every month. The region is a significant film and TV production centre, anchored by icons such as Aardman Animations, major studios at The Bottle Yard (including the new TBY2), and leading independents like Plimsoll Productions, whose award-winning output drives both export earnings and screen tourism. Channel 4’s regional base further reinforces Bristol’s national profile as a creative hub.

The region’s creative economy blends global names with an agile SME base across advertising, marketing, design, postproduction, VFX, animation, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and gaming. Studios such as Lux Aeterna and game developer Ndemic Creations demonstrate how regional talent competes and wins on the global stage.

Our creative industries also play a vital role in the growth of other sectors. Sitting at the intersection of creativity and technology, Createch is the fastest-growing segment of the UK’s creative industries and is forecast to generate 160,000 new UK jobs in the next decade.

The West of England’s universities are powering the future of creative industries.The Bristol Digital Futures Institute, through MyWorld, offers cutting-edge studios and immersive tech for industry collaboration. UWE Bristol, Bridge AI Studios, and Digital Catapult South West drive AI and data-led production. Bath Spa University’s Future Fashion Works links sustainable fashion to the Fashion Museum redevelopment, while the Somer Store gives student and early-stage creatives a real-world launchpad. Together, we’re growing talent and exporting creativity worldwide.

The UK creative industries are predicted to remain on their strong growth trajectory over the next decade, and the West of England is positioned to shape the future of the UK’s creative economy and export its stories, skills, and innovation to the world.

As one of the UK’s top five creative clusters, the West of England is home to over 5,500 creative businesses employing over 40,000 people.

The sector generates £1.6bn in Gross Value Added (GVA) annually

• MyWorld, a global centre of creative technology innovation is fuelling growth of the creative technology sector, providing access to state-of-the-art production facilities. It’s giving businesses the opportunity to undertake R&D using the latest tech to advance their product, process, and prototype development. Working with partners such as Aardman, the BBC, and Netflix, and led by the University of Bristol, it is putting the region at the cutting-edge of media, immersive experience and digital storytelling.
• The Centre for the Analysis of Motion, Entertainment Research & Applications (CAMERA) focuses on intelligent visuals and interactive technology. Located at the University of Bath, CAMERA is helping change the face of real-time visual effects, motion capture, and immersive technology, supporting both academic and commercial innovation.
• The new Bristol Arena will be a major venue for live events and cultural showcases, attracting international acts and strengthening the region’s global profile in music and live entertainment.
• The Bottle Yard Studio is the largest production facility in the South West, supporting hundreds of local crew and supply chain businesses, reinforcing the West of England’s credentials as a full-service destination for screen production.

Strengths in AI, quantum, and supercomputing → Powering next-generation VFX, gaming, AR, VR, and personalised content production – fast growing Screen Tourism & sectors globally.

Screen tourism & cultural assets → Boost hospitality, retail, and the visitor economy, driving demand in the everyday economy.

Sustainable energy and green construction → support low-carbon studios, festivals, and live venues, making the sector a leader in green cultural production.

West of England-South West Wales Creative Corridor → Collaboration shared assets, talent, and international reach with Cardiff’s global media and broadcasting base with will further strengthen the West of England’s position.

From schools to hospitals, care homes to cafes, high streets to warehouses, farmers to bus drivers, these are the jobs and workers that power everything and reinforce our region’s unique identity. Supporting these everyday businesses and organisations helps shape thriving communities, creating spaces where people connect, access essential services, and share a sense of identity.

People are our number one asset. From the teachers and teaching assistants shaping young lives, to the cleaners, cooks, caretakers and admin staff who keep our schools running - they are essential to the success of our communities and future generations. It’s the same in healthcare, where nurses, porters, technicians and clerical staff work alongside clinical teams to deliver life-changing services.

At Southmead Hospital in Bristol, world-leading care is being delivered using state-of-the-art surgical robots, a shining example of how innovation and skilled staff come together to improve lives.

The caring economy is vital to the West of England, enabling parents to work the hours they want and supporting people to live independently through high-quality social care. We see the caring economy as not just a social good but a major driver of economic growth.

By investing in skills and career pathways, we strengthen our workforce, support local organisations, and create opportunities for more people to contribute to the region’s prosperity. Our region is also known for its strong voluntary and community sector, which underpins the empathetic spirit of the region and the drive to make people’s lives better.

The regions hospitality sector is a major economic engine, generating billions in revenue and sustaining tens of thousands of jobs in our cities and in rural and coastal areas. We are proud of our vibrant food, drink, and hospitality scene, from the buzzing independent restaurants, to farmers and growers, who provide fresh, quality produce and sustain community life, all enhanced and supported by residents and visitors to the region.

Our night-time economy is another key strength, enhanced and supported by visitors to the region, encompassing music venues, theatres, clubs, late-night transport, and hospitality that together create a dynamic cultural offer, support thousands of jobs, and keep our streets active and safe well into the early hours.

Behind it all, our logistics and transport sector keeps the region moving. From the distribution hubs at Avonmouth to delivery drivers, warehouse staff and supply chain coordinators, these workers are vital to ensuring goods reach homes, hospitals, schools and businesses.

The Everyday Economy is the backbone of the region – the ingredient without which growth would not be possible – it’s a core sector for our growth vision.

• Health and social care
• Childcare
• Education
• VCSE sector
• Food producers
• Hospitality and the visitor economy
• Building and construction
• Retailers
• Transport and logistics
• Community safety
• Cleaning and waste collection

The everyday economy makes up 57% of the region’s workforce, and reaches 68% in Bath & North East Somerset

The everyday economy generates £16.1bn in GVA annually and contributes 32.8% of the region’s total output

• A dynamic food and drink and hospitality sector, vibrant high streets, with hundreds of retail shops in Bath alone, many of which are independents.
• The region attracts 32 million visitors a year to our cities, towns countryside and coasts.
• A vital logistics and distribution backbone, particularly in Severnside, that keeps goods moving and underpins a resilient, connected economy.
• 19 hospital sites, circa 30,000 Ofsted registered childcare places, 384 state primary schools and 95 secondary schools ensure the region is cared for and young people are supported to grow and thrive.
• The sector is underpinned by a powerful network of Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE) organisations driving change in the region.

• The Everyday Economy is a sector where we will take targeted action essential both for the people who power it and for the region’s long-term growth.
• We are already supporting businesses in the everyday economy to innovate, aligning our skills offer to the needs of everyday economy organisations, and building a transport network that connects people to jobs. But we can and will go further, recognising the everyday economy is the engine room of growth, powering jobs, spending, and local resilience.
• We will direct more funding towards the everyday economy and launch the Mayor’s Everyday Economy Fund, targeting business and innovation funding at the sector, developing tailored support for workers, sharing best practice, and funding projects that support workers in specific sectors.
• We are absolutely committed to supporting the caring economy and will focus on developing a broader workforce and support more people from across communities into these roles. In particular, we will take action to support the childcare workforce in the region, recognising the recruitment and retention challenges the sector faces as well as the vital role childcare workers play in early years education, development, wellbeing, and care; enabling parents to work the hours they want and helping to establish the foundations children need to thrive.
• We will promote the sector, launching a “This Is Essential Work” campaign highlighting the value of roles in the everyday economy and the career opportunities and pathways within these sectors. This will focus on specific sectors and target underrepresented demographics.
• We will also explore how we can better support workers in the night-time economy, who are essential both to people’s lives and the wider economy. We will look at ways to ensure public transport options are available that work for those working shifts and those working at night.
• We will work with partners to improve data on the everyday economy workforce, mapping where people live and work so our investment decisions around skills, housing, and transport can be made in a way that best supports our essential workers.