The South West is an ideal location for marine businesses with its strong tradition of maritime activity and a well established core of healthy and diverse companies across all the major sub-sectors from commercial and leisure to defence and marine science.
The region is the major UK centre for production of all types of leisure craft and equipment and is home to several prestige builders of luxury yachts and high performance power craft. It also features a number of world class marinas at major centres along the north and south coasts.
On the commercial side, the region has a number of shipyards specialising in repairs and refitting small to medium sized ships, as well as Devonport Royal Dockyard at Plymouth, the largest naval base in Europe, and generates of lot of direct and indirect business activity.
Universities and associated research institutes play an extensive role in ensuring that the marine tradition continues well into the next century by providing a range of services.
Follow the links to read more about university centres of expertise and success stories of university and business collaboration in the Marine sector. In addition the Marine Sector Plan contains detailed information on the relations between the sector and higher education.
Marine South West
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
The Marine Biological Association
The National Marine Aquarium
PRIMaRE