Look at south-east England

At over eight million (and with two million of its inhabitants aged under 20), England’s south-east has the highest population of all the regions. It is among the richest parts of the UK, with GDP per head some 17 per cent ahead of the UK average. However parts of the region, notably several coastal towns, suffer significant social and economic deprivation. Average gross income is higher in the region than anywhere else in the UK. Owner occupation is also the highest, at three out of four households, but the region has the lowest level of public investment per head. Crime rates are lower than in the rest of the UK, but it has the worst-performing health service.

The south-east’s 19,000 square kilometres encompass 19 county and unitary authorities and 55 districts, stretching in an arc around London, from Thanet in the south-east to the New Forest in the south-west, and to Aylesbury Vale and Milton Keynes in the north-west. While it is without a single dominant urban centre, the region is home to two cities with populations of around 250,000 (Medway, and Brighton and Hove) and five cities with populations greater than 100,000. Its eight million inhabitants live in some three million households.

The region is environmentally attractive with 6,500 square kilometres designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (a third of the total area of such designations for England). Indeed, the New Forest has recently been awarded National Park status, while the South Downs has been proposed for this. Forty per cent of the area has some form of protective designation and more than 80 per cent is classified as rural. The region also has a strong cultural heritage.

The major south-coast ports and the Channel Tunnel make the region the natural access point to continental Europe. Gatwick and Heathrow airports (the latter immediately adjacent to the regional boundary) also place it at the hub of the UK’s international travel links. The south-east contains 22 per cent of the English motorway network and 14 per cent of its A-road network. Congestion, however, is a growing problem.

There are 20 higher education institutes and other universities with a campus in the region, together with 71 further education colleges. More than one million adults lack basic literacy/numeracy skills. Over a quarter of all expenditure on research and development performed in UK businesses takes place in the region.

The region makes a major contribution to the UK economy, accounting for more than 15 per cent (nearly £150 billion) of total UK Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2003. (GVA measures the contribution to the economy of each individual producer, industry or sector in the UK.) On an across-Europe basis, it ranks 15th out of 86 regional units. It also compares favourably with other English regions, with household disposable income 9 per cent above the national average. Its economy can be categorised as advanced, high cost, high income, broadly based and service oriented, with its main employment sectors (and number of people employed in them) being:

• agriculture (39,800)
• energy and water (26,700)
• manufacturing (357,700)
• construction (148,600)
• distribution, hotels and restaurants (954,800)
• transport and communications (220,600)
• banking, finance and insurance (821,300)
• public administration, health and education (872,500)
• other services (187,800).

Opportunities and skills shortages

Employers increasingly expect workers to be multi-skilled and to use new technology. IT skills are essential, with the ECDL qualification now a basic requirement. The emphasis on customer care demands interpersonal and social skills. There are many job opportunities available for Service leavers. In particular the following skills are valued:

• marine and electrical engineering with a minimum HNC or HND
• rolling stock maintenance
• LGV drivers
• technical sales staff
• technicians
• chefs
• gas engineers (ACS qualified)
• utilities sales
• trainee investigators
• alarm engineers.

Employers

BAe Systems and VT Group, based at Portsmouth Dockyard, have regular vacancies. Southampton-based Siemens Transportation has recruited several train maintenance technicians and examiners. City Facilities Management, the Hampshire Police, Military Provost Guard Service, South West Trains and the Corps of Commissionaires are all recruiting.

Salaries

A rough guide to salaries in the region is given below. This is inevitably very general and there will be variations between industries and also in various parts of the south-east.

Manual £10,000 to £18,000

Semi-skilled £14,000 to £22,000

Skilled and supervisory £16,000 to £25,000

Managerial £20,000 to £35,000

Executive £30,000 to £60,000 and upwards

House price guide

The following prices are a rough guide only to property prices and are liable to overnight change as financial factors in the country as well as in the region affect housing.

Location 2-bed flat 2-bed terrace 3-bed semi 4-bed detached

City £200,000 £260,000 £400,000 £550,000

Town £160,000 £220,000 £340,000 £450,000

Country £120,000 £180,000 £280,000 £350,000

Some information courtesy of the Career Transition Partnership