Main Economic Features

Thriving Towns in a Rural Setting

Cornwall's population has enjoyed faster growth than all but four other UK counties, and stood at 532,200 in 2008. The county has nine towns with over 10,000 inhabitants: Truro, Falmouth, Penzance, Newquay, St Austell, Bodmin, Saltash, Helston and the combined area of Camborne/Redruth .The bustling cathedral city of Truro is the capital and the centre for administration, commerce and tourism.

GVA Strengthens and Skill Levels Increase

Between 2006 and 2007 the rate of growth of GVA per head increased by 5.0%, the third highest rate of growth in the region. Over 91% of the working population holds a qualification - higher than the rest of England - and more than a quarter of those are qualified to NVQ4 or above.  Cornwall's major expansion in higher education means that Cornish businesses can benefit from an influx of graduates - many qualified to degree level, entering the County's work force.

Cornwall Connects

A highly successful roll-out campaign has seen Cornwall's broadband coverage shoot from zero in 2002 to 99% in 2007 - in fact Cornwall's overall broadband penetration rate is now 10% higher than the national rate.   In 2010 Cornwall will be one of the first areas in the UK to receive Next Generation Broadband, ensuring superfast broadband coverage to businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.  Next Generation Broadband will transform the economic performance of the county and make it one of Europe's best connected regions.  

Major expansion in Higher Education

Cornwall's education sector has grown rapidly in recent years with the number of people studying in Cornwall likely to exceed 7,500 by 2011.  One of the most significant developments came in 2004 when several highly respected educational institutions joined to form the new Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC), centred on a state-of-the-art 'hub' campus at Tremough. As well as being able to draw on the skills of its graduates, many companies are already benefiting from the CUC's business incubation facilities

All this translates into an economy that is exceptionally well positioned for success in the twenty-first century.