More widely known for its Jurassic coast and rolling hills, East Devon is showing strong signs of a green economic recovery in response to Covid-19.
The pandemic has brought acknowledgement of the link between health and outside spaces. This recognition and a need to transition to net zero carbon means businesses see wellbeing and the environment as priorities.
East Devon District Council has seized this challenge and is looking towards a clean and green future. The Council is driving clean growth to reduce carbon emissions and providing greener, healthier, more vibrant places to live and work, including in its Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone.
Cllr Paul Hayward, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Economy at East Devon District Council, said:
During the first half of 2020, and as a result of Covid-19, East Devon lost more than 1,000 jobs, including the collapse of Flybe. Many of these jobs were high value and skilled roles but jobs were also lost in the lower paid sectors of our economy. These job losses had a profound effect on our residents, on our towns and villages and on our entire district economy.
Our overriding priority is to strive for a resilient and sustainable economy to promote prosperity in the District. We are actively seeking to increase the levels and quality of employment, and to raise wages levels across East Devon. These efforts are starting to see results. Our plans for clean economic growth means we now have around 500k sq ft of employment space either under construction or being refurbished — a significant proportion of this to the highest environmental standards.
We recently worked with Devon County Council to develop a new Vison for Clean Growth for the West of the District. This document sets a clear framework for transitioning to a net zero economy, presenting some amazing opportunities for East Devon businesses to grasp with both hands. With new ways of working and the demand for lifestyle orientated working environments, there has never been a better time to live, learn and work here.
In the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone, all development at Skypark (a partnership between St. Modwen and Devon County Council) meets the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ benchmark. This includes Burrington Estates’ new development of 35 high quality light industrial units at Skypark to meet demand for commercial space. The site also offers solar PV and EV charging points, covered bicycle storage and insulated panel technology. Skypark, is also home to E.ON Energy’s district heating centre which supplies the District Heating Network for Skypark and Cranbrook.
Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Skills for Devon County Council, said:
It’s good to see that not only is excellent progress being made in building back the economy in East Devon but that it’s also focussing on sustainability and a green recovery. Our ambition is for Devon to be a leader in the green economy as we look towards the county emerging from the pandemic stronger and more resilient than before.
Opportunities for sustainable growth in the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone are also welcome. Devon County Council has invested almost £4 million into The Future Skills Centre, providing the region with a specialist facility to deliver training for high-tech jobs in engineering, digital, construction and clean growth.
We want people right across the county to have the opportunity to learn new skills, for businesses in Devon to have the opportunity to grow, and to attract more businesses into the county. We’re doing all we can to make it possible for people to fulfil their potential here in Devon so that we can create and retain a highly skilled workforce that will be vital to the county’s economic recovery and future growth.
Looking back to spring 2020 where this shift began, undoubtedly the loss of Flybe and associated jobs in suppliers had a huge impact on the economy. Local families were suddenly without the livelihoods on which they depended. A package of support offered a lifeline to families at a time when new employment opportunities were hard to find, as the South West reportedly faced the ‘worst economic shock for 100 years’.
By the autumn in the same year, Dublin Aerospace had established its first overseas subsidiary business, Exeter Aerospace, agreeing to take over much of the Flybe equipment and long term lease of hangars at Exeter Airport.
William Flaherty, CEO of Dublin Aerospace and Exeter Aerospace said:
When the opportunity arose to make Exeter the home of our first UK MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), it was an easy decision for us. The availability of the Hangars and Workshops in Exeter, combined with an exceptional pool of local aviation and engineering talent, made it a hugely attractive location for us. The years of engineering experience built up on the site combined with the support and training facilities in the area spoke volumes for the commitment of all involved in developing MRO activities In Exeter. We are proud to have the opportunity to contribute to the successful future of Exeter Aerospace by creating further jobs and training opportunities for the next generation of aviators.
The Exeter Aerospace specialist facilities provide the perfect location for maintaining aircraft for Loganair, a major airline which has picked up many of the Flybe domestic routes including Belfast, Edinburgh, Manchester, Norwich and Jersey. Both Exeter Aerospace and Loganair are providing opportunities for learning new skills and providing jobs locally, helping the East Devon economy bounce back.
Jonathan Hinkles, CEO of Loganair said:
Our decision to have our aircraft maintained at Exeter Airport, not only brings highly skilled and high-value jobs to the area, but also provides environmental savings. Previously, our aircraft flew as far afield as the United States for their essential maintenance. Bringing this work to Exeter helps us with our commitment to be carbon neutral by 2040 while also supporting local economies.
“The environment is the biggest single challenge we face and we are extremely proud of the steps we are taking to address and reduce emissions from every Loganair flight through our carbon offset programme. We have also been introducing sustainable aviation and hydrogen fuel, in addition to battery electric and hydrogen powered light aircraft, in incremental phases as technological advances allow, for the benefit of our whole network.
These highly skilled jobs help to create a workforce fit for the economy of the future. Training and education opportunities for young people as well as adult learners to upskill or retrain for a new career are provided by Exeter College’s new Future Skills Centre conveniently located adjacent to Exeter Aerospace. The specialist facility delivers training for future-facing high-tech jobs in engineering, digital, construction and clean growth.
Rob Bosworth, Deputy CEO of Exeter College, said:
The Future Skills Centre is thriving and has the potential to go even further now the aviation sector is building back stronger and smarter. We have installed electrification training bays, purchased new aviation engineering systems, invested in a brand new cabin trainer and are about to make a significant investment in immersive technology to aid the skills requirements of local employers. We are very excited to announce the centre is full and we are exploring expansion plans with our partners. This all bodes well for the growth points in the East of Exeter and East Devon.
