Plymouth has the highest concentration of manufacturing employment on the south coast of  Britain, providing opportunities in management, process engineering and advanced manufacturing. 12% of Plymouth’s jobs are in the manufacturing industry, far exceeding the 8.3% national average.

Despite its decline in recent years, manufacturing remains an important part of the UK and Plymouth economies. Locally, it accounts for nearly 13 per cent of the total economy and a similar proportion of the labour market.

In terms of productivity per head - gross value added (GVA), at £47,000 it is worth over one and a third times the average GVA within the local economy.

 View the Advanced Manufacturing factsheet

Plymouth Manufacturers’ Group (PMG)

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the PMG is an informal network of senior level people from manufacturing companies from across the Plymouth Travel-to-Work-Area.

It provides a convenient means of interchange of information, experience and opinion and a channel of communication between members of the Group, local authorities and other appropriate organisations. It encourages and supports the orderly development of industry in the Plymouth area.

Members are from all areas of manufacturing and range from Babcock to Burts Crisps and Princess to Plessey.

University of Plymouth

The School of Engineering (UoP)

Launched in 2017, the School of Engineering has a mission to build upon the University’s existing reputation for world-leading research across marine renewable energy, coastal engineering, autonomous marine systems, structures and materials, while developing new commercial partnerships and research collaborations. The School is home to a range of research facilities, such as the Coastal, Ocean and Sediment Transport (COAST) Laboratory, located in the Marine Building, and the Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre (see below). Its academic programme accommodates around 1,000 students, who are working across subjects including Civil and Coastal Engineering; Mechanical, Marine and Materials Engineering; and Navigation and Maritime Science.

The Advanced Composites Manufacturing Centre 

A leading composites facility based in the School of Engineering, that since 1987 has sought to bridge the traditional gap between academic research and the needs of industry.

Active in a wide range of projects, working  with large and small companies, such as running short courses and workshops in composites design and manufacture, improving processes, testing materials and components, and solving manufacturing and materials problems

Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre (PEMC) (UoP)

PEMC has been offering expert and specialist support to industry across a range of sectors for more than 30 years.

In 2017 it was awarded £1.7m to launch the Plymouth Materials Characterisation Project, which will enable industry in the South West to use the latest state of the art electron microscopes for research and product development in partnership with University academics.

The support offer includes:

• analysis of defects and or failure in components
• analysis of the properties of materials
• confirmation of a product’s quality/ consistency
• bio-imaging
• mineralogical analysis

Industry can benefit from using electron microscopy in terms of:

• improved products and processes
• improved quality control
• reduction of waste (and therefore cost)
• new product development
• promotional images for web and printed materials
• Uses span manufacturing, engineering, textiles, electronics, biomedical, food and other sectors

South West Manufacturing Advisory Service Ltd (SWMAS)

SWMAS design and deliver programmes of support that enable ambitious businesses to increase their productivity, improve operational efficiency, develop skills and reach their growth potential. 

SWMAS work directly with manufacturers, on the shop floor delivering improvement programmes and at board level developing and refining strategy. We provide consultancy services, run public funded programmes, deal with complex funding arrangements and support businesses to leverage UK and European funding for growth and innovation.

City College Plymouth

One of the largest further education colleges on the South coast, awarded the Teaching Excellence Framework Gold award in 2017.

City College Plymouth place hundreds of students in Apprenticeships across Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall. Its success rate is well above average with an Apprenticeship programme rated by Ofsted as Outstanding.

The STEM Hub at City College Plymouth is a £13m Regional Centre of Excellence state-of-the-art teaching and exhibition space. Purpose built, it delivers educational and instructional activities in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

• Energy Generation
• Financial Services
• Technology

Plymouth Science Park (PSP)

Plymouth Science Park is a world-class office, research and laboratory environment that provides the space, flexibility and support for technology, digital and science-based businesses to accelerate their growth and success.

PSP have developed a range of business support services that are generally free to tenants including:

• A pool of high quality business advisers
• Investment offerings
• A programme of business events

Key businesses in the city

• Applied Automation
• Babcock International
• BD (Becton Dickinson)
• Bombardier Transportation    
• Burts Chips
• Fine Tubes
• Hellermann Tyton
• Kawasaki Precision Machinery
• Pipex px®
• Plessey        
• Princess Yachts International
• Rittal-CSM
• Schneider Electric
• The Barden Corporation         
• The Wrigley Company            
• UTC Aerospace Systems                     
• Vi-Spring