Every week Kevin publishes his very own “Kev’s Column” on-line. This week he takes a look at how we can develop more hi-tech industries in the bay:
The image of California as a golden state derives as much from the success of its businesses and industry as it does the beaches which stretch along the coast.
Silicon Valley as it is called has been at the heart of delivering growth and jobs for the San Francisco Bay Area in the same way Hollywood defined Los Angeles as the global capital of film. Yet a century ago people would have scoffed at the idea that the future of these two great cities would be defined by technologies that in one case had only just started to develop and another that only existed in theoretical papers.
When talking with some people in the bay about the need to develop a wider range of jobs and opportunities they react with scepticism or a belief that anything other than a new hotel or shop will scare away tourists. Thankfully the majority of those involved in decision making recognise that unless we help a more balanced year-round economy to develop we are condemning the bay as a whole, including its tourism industry, to further decline.
Many mention in my surveys their concerns about our town centres and what future they will have. Whilst there are changes to items like Business Rate valuations and car parking prices that might have some effect, in the long term the simple truth is we need a more prosperous economy to support a vibrant set of town centres. As long as the bay sits near the bottom of the average income tables for the South West our retail offer will reflect this.
The Heart of the South West LEP has just put forward a further bid for growth funding and I am pleased to see that at the heart of it are plans that could make Torbay, the Silicone Bay.
The plans being put forward include the following projects, all of which have an exciting potential:
• Electronics & Photonics Innovation Centre – this project is designed to maximise the potential of the electronics and photonics sector in Torbay and across South Devon. It will support the needs of new and early stage businesses by providing space for them to operate from and by offering additional equipment to help them develop and test new products. There will also be additional business support and links through to universities and other organisations who can help businesses innovate. The project is forecast to create 220 gross new jobs.
• South Devon College’s Hi Tech Skills Centre – a complementary investment to the Innovation Centre. This facility would help ensure that the growing electronics, photonics and electronic engineering sector continues to have the right qualifications in the workforce.
• Claylands Strategic Employment Site – the council is seeking funding to bring forward this employment site in Paignton which will create space for local businesses and/or inward investors to grow in Torbay. The project will be bring forward an estimated 6-10 acres of employment land and is forecast to create minimum of 150 gross new jobs.
• Oxen Cove, Brixham – Torbay Council, Brixham Town Council and the community have long identified the need to provide the right type of space for the marine economy to flourish. Oxen Cove was identified in the Plymouth and Peninsula City Deal as a site that has the potential to be developed to support the marine economy. This project will ensure that the town’s car parking capacity is protected and will create space for marine engineering or fisheries related activity. It is forecast to create 50-60 gross new jobs.
If our potential is to be fulfilled then there is a need for a untied team effort from all involved to ensure the Government knows the large benefit that relatively small sums of money (on a national level) could bring to our area. If we can deliver these projects our bay can set out on the path to becoming a hub for hi-tech industry.
Some believe our distance from London makes it unlikely any hi-tech business or public sector organisation will wish to relocate from there to here. Yet the spread of High Speed Internet and 4G networks mean a train seat can easily become a mobile office. The idea of journey time being wasted time is no longer relevant.
The key for those considering relocation is being able to get to London and back in a day, something you can easily do from the bay given our direct rail services. This is part of the reason why developing a more resilient rail network will be crucial to our future success as few business will invest in an area that can have its rail services completely cut off by wind & waves at Dawlish.
Silicon Bay may sound quite a goal and yes there are other towns like Reading that are well ahead of us. Yet there is potential for hi-tech industry to flourish here if the right skills and facilities are available. The challenge for us will be working together and attracting investment to ensure that they are.