FAREHAM - Skills

• Workforce catchment of nearly 1 Million within 30 minutes drive-time
• 45% of workforce is in the 'knowledge' sector
• 54% growth in hi-tech employment 1995-2001
• World class R&D sites nearby including IBM, Siemens, NATS, QinetiQ and 2 Universities
• 6% lower salary costs than London

Future success is built on strong economic foundations and key skills. With major international Research and Development facilities and two leading Universities (Southampton and Portsmouth) in the local area, Virtual London continues to be at the leading edge of technology and new technical skills development. However, average salaries in Virtual London are lower than the average across the South East and the UK.

Centres of excellence in other key knowledge driven sectors are close at hand including marine engineering, air traffic management and defence systems as well as Internet and telecomms communities. Recently, DSTL - the centre of scientific excellence for the MoD chose the Fareham area as the location for its new corporate headquarters.

How can we help?

Fareham Borough Council is often made aware of changes in the workforce of existing businesses and are asked to seek alternative employment for technical staff. Detailed knowledge of your own requirements, and links to imminent availability of the right skills, can often help ensure early business advantage. Fareham Borough Council maintains links with a number of key recruitment angencies who can feed, confidentially, current skills av ailability and indicate recruitment potential and costs of key posts.

There are a number of local University led initiatives that can provide graduate skill sets on a project or fixed period basis, often with cost subsidy.

Fareham Borough Council can help to introduce you to the right contacts to further discuss your business needs.