Business relocation

Look no further than Exeter! Our team will do everything we can to help you to relocate.

If you need help with your plans for moving your business to Exeter, please give our Economic Development team a call on +44 (0)1392 265134 or email us at invest@exeter.gov.uk

Exeter's economy

The Exeter economy benefits by the presence of:

• organisations providing world class research, education, and training*
• good transport access by road, rail, air, and high end broadband capacity
• available and outstanding strategically important employment sites and office locations - view the area's Commercial Property Register and Business parks
• consistently lower rents and rates comparable to other areas
• a loyal, flexible, and cost-effective workforce.

* The most prominent of these is the University of Exeter.  This is the UK's 25th fastest growing organisation and is in the top 1% of leading world universities.  View their Exeter promotional video 

Evidence of success

Exeter is the principal economy west of Bristol. Over the last decade Exeter has outperformed most locations across the UK for job creation.  It features in the top 2% for employment growth. Exeter provides investors and businesses with the confidence of a strong local economy. The UK Competitiveness Index confirmed that Exeter has seen the greatest improvement in competitiveness against all other UK locations.

The city's wider area includes much of the district council areas of East Devon, Teignbridge, and Mid Devon and has a population of over 455,000 people.  280,000 are of working age. The number in employment is 238,000 and well over half the workforce is well qualified, substantially above the national average. Our economy continues to attract investment, create new businesses, support and grow existing businesses and draw in high calibre employees.

Significant employers include Centrax Ltd, EDF Energy, Euro Tech Group, Flybe, Goodridge, Graphic Plc, Heathcoat, Hepco Motion, Met Office, The Pennon Group, Peninsula Bioventures, Sitel, Supercat, Thomson Reuters, and the University of Exeter.

Potential for growth

With significant planned economic and retail developments and increased availability of employment land, the Exeter economy is in a strong market position to grow further. 

Exeter is in the top 10 local authority districts in England for businesses that show high potential for growth. This is according to research that the BBC commissioned, and later published on 19 March 2012.  The BBC Local Growth Research, by Experian, found that nearly 1,000 companies, out of 7,345 in the area, show high growth potential.

Plans in place 

The multi-million pound public and private sector investment partnership which works well together within the Exeter and East Devon Growth Point, a 20 year major economic development programme, aims to create an additional 26,000 jobs, and is indicative of the city's strength and the confidence in the area.

The development of Exeter Science Park and the Exeter City of Science initiative illustrate Exeter's aspirations to have more knowledge-based businesses in the area. In terms of high value employment, Exeter has the second highest concentration of knowledge-based services within the South West, slightly behind and second only to Bristol.

John Lewis opened a large new store in Exeter in autumn 2012. It is hoped that this will position Exeter as the second largest retail catchment centre in the South West, after Bristol.

Relocation support

We have proven ability and experience in successfully supporting the most complex of relocations. The biggest example in the past 10 years has been the Met Office relocation. A city-wide effort ensured a smooth relocation for this important global organisation.  The city has the capacity and determination to go that extra mile and there is a welcoming and friendly networking environment in the local economy. 

In short, our support can be intensive but will be appropriate to your needs.  We can, for instance, organise early site visits, provide data for board reports, help with any familiarisation visits, and make introductions to the business community. We will work closely with you on staff consultation, communication, or relocation.

To discuss your ideas or your plans in confidence, please contact us using the details on the upper right of this page. We look forward to hearing from you.

Further relevant information

In the meantime, please look at the following pages.

• Find a site or property by searching our online Commercial Property Register
• Explore our key economic expansion programme on the Exeter and East Devon Growth Point website
• Find out about the Exeter Science Park
• See how we are encouraging science in the city on the Exeter City of Science site
• Use the Exeter & Heart of Devon Employment and Skills Board to find out how we are supporting skills development
• Read about our key employment locations and Business parks
• Read about the Met Office relocation to Exeter
• Access key local socio-economic Statistics and census information
• Look out more information about the Local economy - reports and forecasts
• Access our free professional advice and guidance services for small businesses and social enterprises: Exeter Business Support and The Fruit Tree for Business Exeter Social Enterprise Support