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If that just about sums you up, then you are a ripe target for a new the drive through a Champions programme that not only funds the
initiative aimed at restoring Southampton’s reputation as the crown initiative but also provides it with business-focused direction. (Further
jewel of the English south coast – and doing some pretty good funding came from the government via SEEDA.)
business into the bargain.
Needless to say, as one of the city’s biggest employers, the Port of
Before we go any further, don’t think this is all about regeneration, Southampton is the champion of Champions. The port is part of
although like any city in the land there are grim areas of Southampton Associated British Ports (ABP), which owns 21 ports across the UK, but
that are being given the regeneration treatment. The city suffered Southampton is the jewel in the company’s crown.
from the migration of manufacturing jobs overseas and from “People don’t seem to realise that nearly a quarter by value of Britain’s
underinvestment and communities suffered too. But this is about entire non-EU international trade goes through Southampton,” Deputy
Renaissance, a celebration of a city that is emerging from tough times Port Manager Steven Young says, “that is more than any other port in
and beginning to flourish and that has an even brighter future ahead. the whole of the UK.”
There are a host of different agencies involved in this new campaign, Here are some more statistics: 50% of the trade between the UK,
but it is business that is ultimately driving the ship via a grouping called China and the Far East goes via Southampton; 43m tonnes
Business Southampton whose aim is to “to further Southampton as the of cargo and almost a million cruiseship passengers pass through the
major City of Excellence for business and economic growth on the port.
South Coast. Business Southampton will define the City Region locally,
nationally and internationally, as the best city South of London in which “Back in the 1950’s, during the peak of transatlantic ship travel,
to live, work, study and visit.” The city’s largest employers are backing 600,000 passengers went through the port, two thirds of today’s
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