Aerial shot of Lansdowne District

Why Dorset

Innovation, Economy & Business Environment

Dorset is a prime location for investment. Poised for significant growth, the county has a dynamic and ambitious business community of almost 55,000 active companies (with over 38,000 registered for VAT and PAYE) and Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole stand in the top 10 authorities for the number of high growth enterprises. With a diverse range of active sectors and nationally significant assets, Dorset offers innovation and multiple opportunities to deliver on national priorities including food, energy and security. As part of the wider Great South West pan-regional partnership, Dorset has access to a world-class talent pool, high quality, competitively priced office space, a robust supply chain, and a high security business park - Dorset Innovation Park, the location of Dorset’s Enterprise Zone. In Dorset’s GVA stands at over £21 bn and, with forward thinking local government committed to regeneration and growth, it is the ideal location to establish and grow a business.

With a range of business and industry centres, the flagship Dorset Innovation Park has Enterprise Zone status and is focused on advanced manufacturing, building on Dorset’s strengths in the defence, marine, cyber-security and energy sectors. The Innovation Park is also home to the Defence Battlelab—a multi-million-pound investment by the Ministry of Defence, Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership and Dorset Council. Officially opened in 2022, it provides office space and meeting rooms, as well as access to experimentation assets such as an enclosed hangar, 5G enabled Lulworth Ranges, the roads and space of the Innovation Park, cleared airspace and sea area. The South West Region has three Innovate UK Catapults in the form of the National Composites Centre, the Satellite Applications Catapult and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.

In line with the UK’s fair and transparent regulatory environment, as well as its internationally competitive tax regime, Dorset offers a business culture that encourages and rewards research and development through generous tax credits. Robust IP protection and tax relief for locally developed patents further enhance the region’s business-friendly approach.

Aerial shot of BCP

Location Advantage & Connectivity

Centrally positioned on the South Coast of England, Dorset is just two hours from London by road or rail. Bournemouth Airport sits within the county, and handles around one million passengers annually, providing access to over 35 destinations in 15 different countries in addition to flights within the UK. Additionally, Exeter and Southampton Airports are both within an hour’s reach, and Bristol, London Heathrow, and London Gatwick Airports are accessible within two hours.

Situated between the Freeports of Plymouth & South Devon and Solent, Dorset’s two ports Port of Poole and Portland Port plus its three harbours form strong links to mainland Europe and the Channel Islands. With over extensive coverage of superfast broadband Dorset is well-connected for business, whether that be physically or online.

Education & Research Hub

Dorset is home to esteemed higher education institutions including Bournemouth University, Arts University Bournemouth and Health Sciences University, in addition to two further education colleges, all of which provide a rich environment for education, innovation and research. Dorset has easy access to major higher education centres of excellence across the South including world class and Russell Group universities. Dorset has a strong skills support sector responding to business needs and plans for the future.

Man in a hard hat by engineering machinery

Image of Lulworth Cove

Quality of Life

With its stunning coastline and lush countryside, Dorset is home to some of the most beautiful vistas in the world. The region has a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast—a stretch of coastline along the English Channel whose cliffs contain millions of years of geological history. Two of Dorset’s most famous natural landmarks are the ancient stone arch of Durdle Door, and the layered cliffs at nearby Lulworth Cove.

Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth and Swanage are known for their sandy beaches, while a plethora of Michelin starred restaurants, theatres and arts centres, a thriving festival scene, plus a Premier League Football Club, make Dorset an ideal place to live and work.

Local Government

Dorset and BCP councils, together with Somerset and Wiltshire Councils, now have a joint commitment to a series of ambitious cross-regional projects, which mark a significant step forward in their collective push for devolution and the creation of a Mayoral Strategic Authority for Wessex. These include a joint growth plan coordinating economic development, housing, and infrastructure investment across local authority boundaries; a spacial development strategy integrating growth, environment and transport and a Local Nature Recovery Strategy, protecting and enhancing the region’s natural environment, biodiversity and green spaces. Reflecting shared priorities, these proposals will deliver tangible benefits to businesses across the region and create an ambitious environment for investment, growth and innovation.

Explore Dorset's thriving business ecosystem, where innovation, opportunity, and quality of life converge. Invest in Dorset and be part of a dynamic business community shaping the future.