Look at south-east England

England’s south-east has the highest population of all the regions. It is among the richest parts of the UK, although parts of the region, notably several coastal towns, suffer significant social and economic deprivation. Almost 90 per cent of residents say they are satisfied with their area as a place to live. Mortality rates are below the English average, with both men and women living around one year longer than elsewhere.

The south-east’s 19,000 square kilometres encompass 19 county and unitary authorities and 55 districts, stretching 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 dominant urban centre, the region has two cities with populations of around 250,000 (Medway and Brighton and Hove) and five cities with populations of more than 100,000. It is home to over eight million people 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); the New Forest was recently designated a National Park and the South Downs have been proposed for National Park status. Forty per cent of the area has protective designation and more than 80 per cent is rural. The region also has a strong cultural heritage, with music and theatre (including Glyndebourne and Chichester), two of the UK’s nine sports institutes and some renowned architecture.

The major south coast ports (including Dover, Portsmouth and Southampton) 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 England’s 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. Although well over half a million adults lack basic literacy/numeracy skills, the workforce is generally well educated, with nearly 88 per cent of the working-age population holding some form of qualification. Some 28 per cent of economically active people hold a Level 4 qualification and more than 50 per cent hold one at Level 3 or higher. 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.) Across Europe 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.

Employment rates for working-age people are over 84 per cent for men and 73 per cent for women. The local economy provides around four million jobs, as well as making a significant contribution to London’s labour market. Unemployment and the Job Seekers Allowance claimant counts are both lower than the UK average. There are wide variations, however, in both employment and wealth across the region.

The area’s economy can be categorised as advanced, high cost, high income, broadly based and service orientated, with its main employment sectors and people employed in them being:

• agriculture
• energy and water
• manufacturing
• construction
• distribution, hotels and restaurants
• transport and communications
• banking, finance and insurance
• public administration, health and education
• other services.

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:

• mechanical and electrical engineering
• LGV driving
• rolling stock
• chefs
• gas engineering
• plumbing
• construction.

Employers

BAe Systems, FSL and VT Group, based at Portsmouth Dockyard, have regular vacancies. IBM is a huge employer, while SABA Group International, Flagship Training Ltd and Esso are all recruiting. South West Trains is looking for guards and revenue protection staff.

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 £11,000 to £18,000

Semi-skilled £15,000 to £22,000

Skilled and supervisory £17,000 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 two-bed flat two-bed terrace three-bed semi four-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