New report sets out map for South Hampshire's future economic growth

Date: 16/03/2010

A new report by the Centre for Cities published today sets out a road map for South Hampshire's future economic success.  The report finds that compared to other UK cities, South Hampshire fared the recession comparatively well: 

• The majority of the region saw below average increases in the share of its population claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) over the past two years.

• Overall, South Hampshire saw only a 1.9 percentage point increase in the share of its population claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) over the past two years, compared to 2.1 percentage point Great Britain wide.

The challenge ahead will be to further strengthen the economies of Southampton and Portsmouth to drive the economic growth of the wider sub-region.  This means improving overall employment rates, increasing the size of their highly skilled workforce and increasing their share of private sector workers.

In 2008 27 percent of Southampton's workforce was graduate level, compared to 31.5 percent across the South East.  Portsmouth's employment rate was 73.9 percent, compared to the 78.5 percent South East average.

The report recommends the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) and its component local authorities focus on:

• Improving the quality of office space in the centre of Portsmouth and Southampton to attract more businesses in.
• Ensuring Southampton and Portsmouth have the right housing - to attract more highly skilled workers.  Less than one percent of housing in the two cities is high value ‘executive style housing', compared to the South East average of 7.4 percent.
• The Government should work with PUSH to give statutory powers to the Employment and Skills Board to raise skills across the sub-region

Hannah Brown, Senior Research Manager at the Centre for Cities said:

"South Hampshire has fared relatively well during the recession, compared to the UK as a whole.  The city region has strong economic assets - it is an attractive place to live and has great transport links - with London and internationally, through its bustling ports.

"A stronger Southampton and Portsmouth is absolutely fundamental to the city region's future growth.  This means further increasing overall skill levels and making sure the two cities have the right housing and office space to attract highly skilled workers and business. 

Cllr Seán Woodward, Chairman of PUSH and Executive Leader, Fareham Borough Council said:

 "We are grateful for the work that Centre for Cities has put into this research and we will be considering the recommendations made very carefully.  It is critical, particularly in a recession, to take what action we can to up our game and this sort of report will assist us in doing so."

For more information about the report, please contact
Rosamund Taylor, External Affairs Manager
020 7803 4316 / 07876 175 426 / r.taylor@centreforcities.org

Notes to editors:

Charting the course: growing South Hampshire's economy is available at www.centreforcities.org/push

JSA claimant count rate by local authority in PUSH

PUSH (the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire) is a Partner City in the Centre for Cities research programme.  In 2009/2010 the programme has worked closely with a small group of cities, including Liverpool and Birmingham.  The Centre for Cities works with these cities to inform their economic development strategies and improve economic performance. 

The Partnership for Urban South Hampshire, PUSH, comprises eleven local authorities that have come together to promote the economic regeneration and sustainable growth of the sub-region.  PUSH works with a sister organisation, Transport for South Hampshire, which is responsible for the planning and delivery of sub-regional transport plans, policies and programmes.  

The geographic area of South Hampshire is defined in the Plan for the South East and includes around 1 million people.  It covers Southampton and Portsmouth, the whole of the boroughs of Havant, Fareham, Gosport and Eastleigh and parts of East Hampshire, Winchester City, New Forest and Test Valley.

Each of these local authorities, together with Hampshire County Council, is a member of a Joint Committee set up under the Local Government Acts that is the senior responsible body of the Partnership.   PUSH's partner agencies also sit on the Joint Committee (or within its delivery structure), including the HCA, JobCentre Plus, the Skills Funding Agency, Business Link, SEEDA, and the Government Office for the South East.

On 18 January, the Centre for Cities launched Cities Outlook 2010.  This report ranked the economic performance of 64 of the UK's largest cities and towns.  A Southampton and Portsmouth fact sheet is available upon request.