Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing
Make UK
Make UK champions and celebrates British manufacturing and manufacturers. They build a platform for the evolution of UK manufacturing. Stimulate success for manufacturing businesses, help them to meet their objectives and goals, empower individuals and inspire the next generation.
https://www.makeuk.org/
British Marine Foundation
For marine-based businesses – BMF exist to support their members, providing expert advice, facilitating connections and championing their interests on a global stage.
https://britishmarine.co.uk/
West of England Aerospace Forum
WEAF is committed in delivering first-class opportunities to develop and drive your business forward within the aerospace, defence and advanced engineering industries.
https://www.weaf.co.uk/
South West Aerospace Cluster
South West Aerospace is a collaboration between the South West Local Enterprise Partnerships (Cornwall, Heart of the South West, Dorset, Gloucestershire and the West of England).
https://www.bristolandbath.co.uk/south-west-aerospace/
South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster
The SWRDSC is the first pan-Defence and Security cluster in the UK. It forms a collaboration led by industry and academia with the support of government and its ministerial departments such as the MOD and its innovation directorate, and the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA). The cluster seeks to aggregate and raise the profile of regional D&S capability to stimulate greater sector knowledge, business, economic growth and productivity across the South West region. It will attract businesses of all scales with an interest in D&S to deliver new sector and cross-sector capability. It aims to apply a ‘Team UK’ approach to enable more joined up working between industry, academia and government, providing an efficient and accessible route to industry curation and the region’s D&S value chain.
https://southwestrdsc.co.uk/
Dorset Engineering & Manufacturing Cluster
Dorset is home to a diverse and thriving engineering and manufacturing community of over 2,000 companies employing 17,000 people and contributing £1.4B to our local economy. The Cluster supports engineering and manufacturing in Dorset, creates opportunities to collaborate, create and innovate with each other, industry partners, schools, colleges and universities.
https://www.dorsetemc.com/Home.aspx
BattleLab
Located at Dorset Innovation Park, The Ministry of Defence has joined forces with Dorset Council and Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, to open the first of its kind in the UK, the Defence BattleLab. The facility is home to end-users from different trades and specialisations across Defence; people placed to help collaborators navigate the MoD and make engagement more accessible. BattleLab seeks to enable exciting and creative collisions and connections, bringing the right minds together to solve challenging problems and emerging threats. Technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, accelerated by the convergence of 5G, artificial intelligence, machine learning and quantum computing. By being transparent and willing to work more collaboratively, Defence aims to keep pace and remain competitive in a changing world. BattleLab is the defence innovation Co-Creation Space, part of the government National Strategic Technology and Innovation Exchange (NSTIx) programme. The programme was established to enable innovative development and prosperity opportunities by bringing parties to the table that would not normally be involved.
https://defencebattlelab.com/
South West Manufacturing Advisory Service (SWMAS)
A team of manufacturing and business development experts with a mission: to help transform south west manufacturers into world class businesses. Their unique connections, knowledge, and expertise are used in partnership with ambitious manufacturers to help them improve their productivity, develop their capabilities, enter new markets, and become leaders in their fields. They support programmes on behalf of the government, local enterprise partnerships, and other public sector funders. They design and deliver programmes to support manufacturers in a variety of ways, from targeting key supply chains (like nuclear and offshore wind) to broader services, developing strategy, and improving productivity. The provision of consultancy and training services, principally for manufactures tackling transformational change, is also part of their operation. They provide support to some of the world’s leading manufacturers as well as to many smaller manufacturers, and we have built long-standing relationships with many of these companies.
https://www.swmas.co.uk/
Centre for Alternative Materials and Remanufacturing Technologies (CALMARE)
CALMARE carry out research into the sustainable use of polymers and composites, investigating concepts such as the circular economy, biomaterials, recycling and remanufacturing.
https://engineering.exeter.ac.uk/research/etg/centres/calmare/#:~:text=and%20Remanufacturing%20(CALMARE)-,Centre%20for%20Alternative%20Materials%20and%20Remanufacturing%20(CALMARE),%2C%20biomaterials%2C%20recycling%20and%20remanufacturing.
Defence Growth Partnership
Government and Industry are working together to ensure the UK’s Defence Sector grows in the future by strengthening our global competitiveness and supporting UK prosperity.
https://www.defencegrowthpartnership.co.uk/
F4N Fit for Nuclear
Fit For Nuclear (F4N) is a unique service to help English* manufacturing companies get ready to bid for work in the civil nuclear supply chain.
https://namrc.co.uk/services/f4n/
National Aerospace Technology Programme (NATEP)
A £20m programme to develop 80 aerospace technologies in the UK aerospace supply chain.
The Aerospace Growth Partnership developed the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP) aimed at small and medium sized suppliers to help them develop their own innovative technologies to enhance their capabilities and increase their ability to win new business with higher tier companies anywhere in the world.
https://www.natep.org.uk/
National Composites Centre
The National Composites Centre (NCC) is an independent, open-access technology centre delivering world-class research and development of composites. As part of the UK’s Catapult Network, we offer our partners access to the latest technology, provide technical expertise and the business support they need to overcome barriers to innovation and accelerate their growth.
https://www.nccuk.com/
Defence Science and Technology Library (DSTL)
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) provides world-class science and technology expertise for the UK’s security and defence.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-science-and-technology-laboratory
Agritech & Aquaculture
NFU
The NFU is the most successful representation body for agriculture and horticulture in England and Wales.
https://www.nfuonline.com/
Country Landowners Association
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is the membership organisation for owners of land, property and businesses in rural England and Wales.
https://www.cla.org.uk/
British Grassland Society
BGS is a membership organisation which acts as a communication forum, through events and publications, for the profitable and sustainable use of grass and forage. It brings together all those with an active interest in the science and practice of grass and forage production and utilisation; research workers, farmers, advisers, teachers and technical members of the agricultural industry.
https://www.britishgrassland.com/
Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group South West
The Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group SouthWest (FWAG SouthWest) is a registered charity representing the region’s farmers and landowners in the delivery of wildlife conservation.
https://www.fwagsw.org.uk/
The Soil Association
For over 75 years, the Soil Association has worked with everyone to transform the way we eat, farm, and care for our natural world. They build real solutions from the ground up. Because the only way to solve the issues facing our world is to understand that they are all connected - and that food, farming and forestry are a vital part of the solution.
https://www.soilassociation.org/
Dorset Food & Drink
Dorset Food & Drink is the membership organisation for food and drink businesses based in Dorset which produce, serve and sell great local products, as well as those which celebrate their connection to this beautiful county. It’s a community interest company limited by guarantee with an asset lock which means it’s truly not-for-profit.
They work with our members’ businesses to support them and to help them get their food and drink businesses seen, known and experienced by consumers here in Dorset and beyond. With an effective and wide-reaching marketing and communication programme both inside and beyond the county, they help our members reach new customers and help residents and visitors find the very best in local food and drink here in Dorset. They are the signpost for members towards sources of grants and other support and provide up to date sector intelligence to help these businesses keep compliant and efficient.
Dorset Food and Drink - Find great local food, drink and experiences
Dorset Innovation Park
Dorset Innovation Park is Dorset's only economic development site with Enterprise Zone status. Dorset Innovation Park is developing as an advanced engineering cluster of excellence for the South West, building on its strengths in marine, defence, energy and cyber-security.
The Park offers office space, workshop facilities and fully serviced commercial employment land with Enterprise Zone status benefits such as business rate relief, simplified planning and full fibre accessibility.
The Park offers the space and support to expand, access to local finance and a growing occupier community. It offers a secure facility and the presence of two world leaders in defence technology - Atlas Elektronik and QinetiQ.
https://www.dorsetlep.co.uk/dorset-innovation-park
South West Agritech
The South West is England’s largest and most rural region with rich, diverse natural resources, a strong and growing network of over 200 innovative agritech companies, working with industry-leading academics and Research and Development institutions.
Small to medium-sized agritech companies in the South West generate over £371 million turnover. The area also attracts many major employers including Arla Foods UK, Danone, Mole Valley Farmers, Thatchers Cider, Velcourt, ABP Food Group, DuPont, Glencore Agriculture and Yeo Valley Farmers.
Complementary sector strengths include Aerospace, Automotive, Marine, Nuclear, Space, ITech and Pharmaceuticals.
https://www.southwestagritech.org.uk/
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
CEFAS are an agency of Defra (the Government’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and world leading experts in marine and freshwater science. They help keep our seas, oceans and rivers healthy and productive and our seafood safe and sustainable, by providing data and advice to Government and our overseas partners.
https://www.cefas.co.uk/
Crop Health and Protection UK (CHAP)
CHAP, a UK Agri-Tech Centre funded by Innovate UK, brings together leading scientists, farmers, advisors, innovators and businesses to understand industry challenges, drive research and innovation and develop and trial solutions that transform crop systems. They work with partners to translate and promote these solutions for market adoption and improved crop productivity. Their mandate is to increase crop productivity for future generations through the uptake of new technologies.
https://chap-solutions.co.uk/
Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock (CIEL)
A world-leading farm animal research alliance, helping to bring new technologies and processes to livestock food production within the UK and worldwide.
https://cielivestock.co.uk/
Agri-Epi Centre
Agri-Epi offer a wide range of support: from supplying project and grant management ​services, technology business incubators and technical expertise to developing new international links, as well as establishing key industry partnerships and relationships.
https://agri-epicentre.com/
Agrimetics
Agrimetrics is one of four UK Agri-tech Centres created with initial public funding from Innovate UK. Since 2014, they have been enabling agri-food organisations to realise the value trapped in their data. In 2019 they launched The Agri-food Data Marketplace.
https://www.agrimetrics.co.uk/
Maritime UK SW
Maritime UK South West is a public, business, research partnership which brings together the breadth of ocean economy to create a world leading ocean technology cluster. They enable innovation and collaboration, finding the right business support and skills and driving strategic development and investment.
https://maritimeuksw.org/
South West Aquaculture Network (SWAN)
SWAN provide industry with key development and collaboration opportunities to grow the sector holistically, providing food security and contributing to the UK Government’s commitment to Net-Zero Carbon by 2050.
https://maritimeuksw.org/oceanscienceaquaculture/south-west-aquaculture-network-swan/
Visit Dorset
Information about Dorset – accommodation, what’s on, things to do, food and drink, shopping.
https://www.visit-dorset.com/
Great South West
Three Local Enterprise Partnerships, seven county and unitary authorities, six universities and major businesses - all working together.
https://greatsouthwest.co.uk
Financial Services
FinTech West
FinTech West is the place for disruptive start-ups, dynamic scale-ups and established enterprises. They share ideas, what’s working (and what isn’t), and how to shape the future of our industry – together.
https://www.fintechwest.co.uk/
British Business Bank
The British Business Bank is 100% government owned, but independently managed. It brings expertise and government money to the smaller business finance markets. Their aim is to make finance markets work better for small businesses in the UK at all stages of their development: starting up, scaling up and staying ahead.
https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/
Marine Services
Maritime UK SW
Maritime UK South West is a public, business, research partnership which brings together the breadth of ocean economy to create a world leading ocean technology cluster. They enable innovation and collaboration, finding the right business support and skills and driving strategic development and investment.
https://maritimeuksw.org/
British Marine Foundation
For marine-based businesses – BMF exist to support their members, providing expert advice, facilitating connections and championing their interests on a global stage.
https://britishmarine.co.uk/
South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster
The SWRDSC is the first pan-Defence and Security cluster in the UK. It forms a collaboration led by industry and academia with the support of government and its ministerial departments such as the MOD and its innovation directorate, and the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA). The cluster seeks to aggregate and raise the profile of regional D&S capability to stimulate greater sector knowledge, business, economic growth and productivity across the South West region. It will attract businesses of all scales with an interest in D&S to deliver new sector and cross-sector capability. It aims to apply a ‘Team UK’ approach to enable more joined up working between industry, academia and government, providing an efficient and accessible route to industry curation and the region’s D&S value chain.
https://southwestrdsc.co.uk/
Poole Marine Hub
Poole Marine Hub is a partnership of private businesses, academic and research institutions, local and central government authorities and business support organisations striving to grow the marine and maritime sector in Poole whilst enhancing and protecting the marine natural environment. They look to address some of the key challenges of the sector in Poole and make the most of opportunities coming our way, by encouraging partnership, collaboration and innovation. Poole Marine Hub is hosted by BCP Council within the Economic Development department.
https://www.poolemarinehub.com/home.aspx
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
CEFAS are an agency of Defra (the Government’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and world leading experts in marine and freshwater science. They help keep our seas, oceans and rivers healthy and productive and our seafood safe and sustainable, by providing data and advice to Government and our overseas partners.
https://www.cefas.co.uk/
Jurassic Coast Trust
Information about the Jurassic Coast – things to do, fossil collecting, exploring, what’s on, where to stay, food and drink.
https://www.jurassiccoast.org/
Battlelab
Located at Dorset Innovation Park, The Ministry of Defence has joined forces with Dorset Council and Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, to open the first of its kind in the UK, the Defence BattleLab. The facility is home to end-users from different trades and specialisations across Defence; people placed to help collaborators navigate the MoD and make engagement more accessible. BattleLab seeks to enable exciting and creative collisions and connections, bringing the right minds together to solve challenging problems and emerging threats. Technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, accelerated by the convergence of 5G, artificial intelligence, machine learning and quantum computing. By being transparent and willing to work more collaboratively, Defence aims to keep pace and remain competitive in a changing world. BattleLab is the defence innovation Co-Creation Space, part of the government National Strategic Technology and Innovation Exchange (NSTIx) programme. The programme was established to enable innovative development and prosperity opportunities by bringing parties to the table that would not normally be involved.
https://defencebattlelab.com/
Creative Digital Sector
Silicon South
Silicon South is a not-for-profit organisation created by the agencies it champions. The network exists to raise the recognition, ambition and capabilities of the people and companies in the digital, creative and tech industries of Dorset, helping them to be their best and thrive.
https://siliconsouth.org.uk/
National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA)
The National Centre for Computer Animation has been at the forefront of computer graphics and animation education and research in the UK since 1989. In 2011, the Centre was presented with the Queen’s Anniversary Award for “World-class computer animation teaching with wide scientific and creative applications” and its contribution to world-leading excellence and pioneering development in the teaching of computer animation. The aim of the NCCA is to promote science in the service of the arts and to embed a theoretical underpinning within a contemporary professional setting, allowing graduates to leave BU with highly sought-after skills in the computer animation, visual effects and computer games industries.
https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/about/our-faculties/faculty-media-communication/national-centre-computer-animation
The Centre for Digital Entertainment (CDE)
The CDE is an EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training based at Bath and Bournemouth Universities. Company partners include animation, VFX and games companies (for example MPC, Ninja Theory, Double Negative and Sony), as well as companies who use these skills in other business areas (NHS, Perkin Elmer Ltd, National Trust). CDE offers outstanding and unique opportunities to students and companies alike.
https://digital-entertainment.org/
You Are The Media
A supportive marketing learning community with a membership club, events, creator day, newsletters.
https://www.youarethemedia.co.uk/
Tech South West
Help support, connect and showcase the tech sector across the South West. Tech South West is run by tech companies and clusters including Digital Plymouth, TechSPARK, Digital Northern Devon, Software Cornwall, Digital Taunton, Tech Exeter, Engine Shed and Silicon South. Working with Tech Nation and other partners, they offer a platform for members, the region’s technology sector, education, government, businesses and other organisations keen to engage with the sector and support its growth.
https://www.techsouthwest.co.uk/
Tech Nation
Tech Nation is the growth platform for tech companies and leaders. Tech Nation fuels the growth of game-changing founders, leaders and scaling companies so they can positively transform societies and economies. We provide them with the coaching, content and community they need for their journey in designing the future.
https://technation.io/