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Are Sidmouth and the South West good places to work and to do business?

  • by JW

“There are several businesses that sadly are up for sale in the high street.” [Vince Page, Sidmouth Herald]

“The overall level of positive sentiment [in the South West] hit a one-year high… linked to business expansion plans, investment in new technology, improved marketing and new contract wins.” [Nat West bank]

Exeter has been named as the eighth lowest city in the country when it comes to pay.

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There have been a few mixed messages about how the economy is doing in these parts – with not much sign that people are willing to re-enter the job market, with lots of vacancies still unfilled: The ‘great resignation’ still at work in Sidmouth – Vision Group for Sidmouth

So, how are companies, entrepreneurs and employees finding things these days in Sidmouth and the wider South West?

Firstly, there is the immediate situation in Sidmouth, as reported by Vince Page in his weekly column in the Herald:

There are several businesses that sadly are up for sale in the high street and some that don’t appear to have been there very long and if you are looking to branch out and buy a business ensure you have all the funds in place to do so as going into any business underfunded can leave you chasing your tail for a long time. What support can business expect from the council and the Budget | Sidmouth Herald

Then there is the latest South West PMI Business Activity Index from the Nat West bank – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors. And it saw its first increase in activity across the region for seven months: ‘Positive picture’ for South West firms as confidence hits one-year high – Business Live

As reported also by the Herald:

Private sector companies operating in the South West expressed a greater degree of optimism regarding the 12-month outlook for output in February. Notably, the overall level of positive sentiment hit a one-year high. It also exceeded the series long-run trend and that seen at the national level. Upbeat forecasts were often linked to business expansion plans, investment in new technology, improved marketing and new contract wins. South West Business activity returns to growth in February | Sidmouth Herald

Some more good news from the region for women in work in these parts – although there is definitely room for improvement:

PwC said the South West continued to have the lowest gap between male and female labour force participation rates of any region in the UK at 5.5%. It was also second for overall participation with a rate of 77%, while its unemployment for women was 3.2%. PwC finds South West now second best place in the UK for women in the workplace – Business Live

Meanwhile, Exeter might be a great place – but not a great place to earn a good salary:

With a vibrant city centre, a thriving hub of business and industry, and a top university, it’s a city that is often praised for offering that elusive work-life balance. However, when it comes to salaries, Exeter is lagging behind many other parts of the UK. A new study has revealed the UK cities with the lowest average salaries. And Exeter has been named as the eighth lowest city in the country when it comes to pay. Salaries in Exeter among the lowest in the UK – Devon Live

So, how are companies, entrepreneurs and employees finding things in Sidmouth and the wider South West?