Regions and Nations

Southern England

South East: The prominent pharmaceutical industry is at the forefront of international research and development. Kent already accommodates four of the world’s top ten pharmaceutical companies. Bioscience is also a major and cutting-edge activity in the region, although most are small businesses. The South East has the largest European onshore oil field at Wytch Farm, along with the largest refinery in the UK at Fawley Southampton, linked to a significant petrochemical complex. On the nuclear side the region has two power stations at Dungeness. The demand for road fuels is high in the region, and the UK’s major airports are in the South East, requiring significant quantities of jet fuel. The Liquefied Natural Gas plant at Isle of Grain will become a significant input point for the national grid. For the polymer industry, there is a cluster of companies on the Isle of Wight supplying composite materials for producing wind turbine blades and aerospace applications.

South West: Sector employment in the region is dominated by Nuclear and Polymers. Only two nuclear power stations are still generating power, so the remaining activities are focused upon decommissioning of facilities, apart from Devonport dockyard where nuclear submarines are serviced. The region has a focus upon travel and tourism, so the rural filling station infrastructure is vital in supporting this key sector. The pharmaceutical and biomedical industry in the South West is dynamic, constantly exploring opportunities for partnering, licensing and forging collaborations.

London: Employment within the region is centred on company headquarters activities, although petrol forecourt retail is the predominant sectoral employer in the area. London shows the highest proportion of micro employers of all areas of the country, reflecting the high volume of forecourt retail operations in the region.

Economic indicators
Cogent South Cogent UK
Turnover £18.8bn £156bn
Cogent GVA £6.6bn £49bn
Cogent GVA per employee £57,878 £98,394
Number of employees 114,600 500,00
Mean weekly pay** £875.00 £381.50

Source: Annual Business Inquiry 2005
*UK GVA average per employee £31,419
*Industry estimate of total Cogent employment 906,000
**Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2007

12% of turnover in the Cogent sector is generated in the Southern region. The Southern region contributes 13% of the sector GVA. The region employs 23% of the Cogent workforce.

Business size


Source: Annual Business Inquiry 2006

The Cogent sector in the South region has a higher proportion of micro companies (70%) than the Cogent sector in the UK. 2% of companies in the region employ 200 or more staff.

The skills gap


Source: Labour Force Survey 2007

Key skills issues for the Cogent industries in the South of England:

  • 9% deficit of the workforce qualified to Level 2
  • 14% deficit of the workforce qualified to Level 3
  • Level 4 and 5 occupations are also key to the region as the majority of the workforce are employed and qualified at this level. 42% and 41% respectively.
Occupational profile


Source: Labour Force Survey 2007

The South region has a larger proportion of Managers and Senior Officials and Professional occupations than the UK Cogent sector. 42% of the Cogent workforce in the region is employed in Manager/ Senior Official and Professional Occupations.

Workforce distribution


Source: Labour Force Survey 2007

The sector in the region employs a larger proportion of females than the Cogent sector in the UK. 38% of workers are female. The region also employs more part time and temporary staff than the Cogent sector in the UK.

Regional actions

As part of the Learning and Skills Council’s Train to Gain initiative, Cogent has launched Business Improvement Techniques training in the South West.

We are working with groups of schools in the region on developing an Engineering diploma to be launched this year.

Cogent is leading a project to develop a programme-led Apprenticeship for the energy sector, designed to increase the number of new young and mature entrants.

Cogent is offering competence masterclasses to companies in the East of England designed to provide managers with effective competence management systems.

Cogent is working with partners to develop an Energy Foundation Degree, to provide a work-based progression route from the Energy Apprenticeship.