Graduate careers in the South West

In and around the South West | Drink at... | Dance at... | Eat at... | Shop at... | The cost of living in the South West | Getting work in the South West area

The South West is the largest region in England, stretching from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It has traditionally been associated with Cheddar cheese, Devon cream teas and cider but is probably now equally well known for being the home of the Glastonbury festival and Cornwall's surfing beaches. It is largely rural but includes the cities of Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Plymouth and Bath.

Bristol is overflowing with festivals, gigs and other events all year round. Its bars are quirky and individual and its shops are often exclusive to the city. Beautiful Bath also offers great shopping and good nights out. Exeter has a large student population and a thriving arts scene, and is one of the liveliest cities in the south west. Sandwiched between Devon and Cornwall, Plymouth is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city.

Not surprisingly for such a huge area, there are marked differences in prosperity across the region. While Bristol is the second most affluent large city in England after London, some parts of Cornwall and Devon have among the lowest average incomes in the UK.

The train service connecting the major cities of the south west to London is fast and direct and can get you from Exeter to Paddington in just over two hours. The M4 motorway is the busiest road link, connecting Bristol to London. There are airports in Bristol, Bournemouth, Exeter, Plymouth and Newquay, offering a wide range of domestic and European flights. The most economically active parts of the south west are those with the best connections to London. Bristol accounts for a quarter of the region's economy.

Find out more about living and working in Bristol

In and around the South West

The South West's beautiful and varied countryside makes it a great place for outdoorsy types as well as a draw for tourists, with more than 700 miles of coastline, national parks at Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor and the Eden Project in Cornwall. Activity centres for climbing, water sports and so on are dotted around the area and there are opportunities for trekking, mountain-biking, horse riding, golf, skydiving and even off-road driving if you fancy it.

Each year Bristol hosts the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Hundreds of unusually shaped hot air balloons are launched into the sky over four days of festival fun. The Harbour Festival is also held annually, providing summer entertainment for all ages. For more information about what's on, Venue is the entertainment bible for Bristol and Bath - buy it in newsagents or read it online. Exeter hosts various seasonal festivals and also has a regular farmers' market, and Plymouth hosts a number of high-profile events including the British Fireworks Championships and World Championship Class 1 Powerboat Racing.

All the major cities have buzzing networks of bars and clubs, due in no small part to their student communities. There's also plenty of cultural life. You could take in an independent film at the Watershed Media Centre in Bristol, watch a play at Exeter's Northcott Theatre or check out the contemporary art at the Tate Gallery in St Ives. If you fancy some sightseeing followed by a spot of pampering, visit the Roman Baths in Bath and test the waters for yourself at the newly-constructed Thermae Bath Spa.

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Drink at...

• Cadbury House, Bristol: Popular with students and locals, this legendary little pub has a cosy, comfortable atmosphere and is tucked away on the Montpelier hillside.
• The Moet et Chandon Champagne and Cocktail Bar, Exeter: Located in The Royal Clarence Hotel, this is the place for a spot of sophistication. They offer just about every cocktail you can imagine, several coffee blends and even some light bites.
• Pitcher and Piano: Branches in Bristol, Exeter and Taunton. Pitcher and Piano prides itself on making sure each of its bars has its own unique identity, designed to suit its location.

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Dance at...

• Academy, Bristol: Bristol's biggest club and live music venue. Great club nights and gigs. Popular with students.
• Club Rococo, Exeter: Monday night entry £1; other nights age restrictions are applied, with over-21 and over-25 nights.
• Dance Academy, Plymouth: All-night dance venue, open from 10.00 pm till 6.00 am or later still. Guest DJs from around the world.

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Eat at...

• Clifton Sausage Bar & Restaurant, Bristol: Head over to Clifton Sausage, not just for sausages but for all sorts of local and national dishes and classic British grub.
• Lewinnick Lodge, Newquay: The cliff-top location overlooking the Atlantic makes for amazing views, with a terrace ideal for watching the sun go down. Good food with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients.
• Al Farid, Exeter: Dishes from Morocco and Southern Spain give an authentic taste of North African culture. Mix and match tapas, salads, wraps, meat, flatbread and dips or try the more substantial dishes.

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Shop at...

• Eastside, Bristol: Multicultural Eastside is the place to go for specialist grocery stores and other shops that reflect the influence of Bristol's Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities. You'll also find vintage clothing and ethical goods.
• Barbican Glassworks, Plymouth: Beautifully restored former fish market where you can watch expert glass blowers at work. A great place to shop for gifts.
• Clarks Village, Somerset: Over 90 outlet shops offering up to 60 per cent off the recommended retail price on a host of famous brands.

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The cost of living in the South West

The South West is a popular destination for people moving from other parts of the UK, thanks to its reputation for offering a high quality of life. This means there's a shortage of affordable housing, but there are local initiatives in place to increase the amount of real estate being developed and coming to the market.

House and rental prices inevitably vary significantly. As a very rough guide, a flat might set you back about £163,000 and a terraced house £184,000. Expect to pay between £260 and £400 per month for a room in a house share. If you aspire to rent a one or two-bedroom house or flat, expect to pay considerably more. On the plus side, there are plenty of other graduates looking to share, especially in urban centres such as Bristol, where 26 per cent of the population is aged between 20 and 34.

• It's well worth checking the websites of local universities (Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Portsmouth, for example) for information and advice about the local housing market.
• Check sites such as Gumtree for ads for flat and house shares, as well as property to rent.
• Get more detailed information on the individual counties and cities from local government websites.

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Getting work in the South West

There are more than 1,500 multinational businesses operating in the south west, including market leaders such as J.P. Morgan, HP, Toshiba, Orange, Honda, Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Kraft Foods. The Met Office is based in Exeter and the GCHQ (Government Communications Head Quarters) offices are in Cheltenham. The region is also an important base for the Royal Marines.

Sectors that are flourishing in the south west include: aerospace, the creative industries, food and drink, biomedical, technology, marine and tourism.

• A good place to start looking for a job in the region is on university websites, for example Bath, Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth.
• Try some of the region-specific job search sites.

Below is a brief list of some of the graduate recruiters in the region. (Note: these companies may not be currently recruiting. Their names have been provided as a guideline to the type of work available and areas to look in.)

Find out more about graduate employers in Bristol

• Orange: (IT and networks, customer service, retail operations, HR, legal, marketing, finance, sales, technical, Bristol) Fast-growing telecommunications operator and international brand offering opportunities for graduates across a range of careers. 
• Met Office: (Science and technology, IT, corporate services, Exeter) One of the world's leading providers of environmental and weather-related services, through broadcasters and online media, to the general public, government and schools, civil aviation and almost every other industry sector. 
• J.P. Morgan: (Investment banking; sales, trading and research; asset management; risk; operations; finance and business management; and technology, Bournemouth) J.P. Morgan is a leading private sector employer in Dorset, with 4,300 employees working at its operations, finance and business management hub in Bournemouth. 
• Rolls-Royce: (Engineering, operations management, supply chain, customer management, finance, HR, commercial, marketing, project management, Bristol) Engineering and technology company operating in the civil and defence aerospace, marine and energy markets. 
• GCHQ: (IT, internet and engineering; language and culture specialists; intelligence analysis; information management; security; communications research and development; corporate support, Cheltenham) GCHQ - the Government Communications Head Quarters - is a key part of the UK's intelligence and security service. Along with MI5 and MI6, its role is to counter threats to British people and interests. 
• Airbus: (Engineering, manufacturing engineering, supply chain logistics, procurement, finance, HR, Bristol) Airbus is one of the world's leading aircraft manufacturers, developing, producing and supporting world-leading airliners seating from 100 to 525 passengers. It has also expanded into the military transport aircraft sector. 

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