The South West has 7% of the UK’s design businesses. There are just over 15,000 designers working in the region, an increase of more than 50% since 2003.
The region has a higher than average proportion of digital and multimedia design businesses and a higher than average proportion of businesses that have been operating for between four and six years. Design businesses in the South West are less likely to have seen their fee incomes fall than others in the UK.
Download a PDF factsheet full of facts and stats on the design industry in the South West
Number of designers and design businesses in the South West
How many designers are there in the South West?
There are 15,6351 designers in the South West. This is an increase of 53%2 on 2003.
How many design businesses are there in the South West?
There are 8,329 design businesses in the South West. Design businesses in the South West account for 7% of design businesses in the UK.
- Design consultancies 972
- Freelance designers 4,613
- In-house design teams 390
Profile of design businesses in the South West
What disciplines do design businesses in the South West work in?
Compared with the rest of the UK, a high proportion of South West design businesses work in digital and multimedia design.
How long have design businesses in the South West been operating?
Almost 40% of design businesses in the South West have been in operation for less than four years.
How many designers do in-house design teams in the South West employ?
64% of in-house teams in the South West employ fewer than five designers.
How many designers do design consultancies in the South West employ?
The South West has a higher proportion of larger design consultancies than the UK average.
Financial performance of design businessses in the South West
What is the annual fee income/budget for design businesses in the South West?
Nearly a quarter of South West design businesses have an annual fee income/budget of less than £100k.
How does the financial performance3 of design businesses in the South West for the last year compare with the year before?
42% of South West design businesses have improved their financial performance over the last year.
Clients of design businesses in the South West
What industry sectors do design businesses in the South West work in?
31% of South West design businesses work in the public sector.
How big are the clients of South West design businesses?
56% of design businesses in the South West work for small firms.
Job market for design businesses in the South West
What percentage of design businesses in the South West are recruiting?
28% of design businesses in the South West recruited at least one designer last year (UK average – 31%).
What percentage of design businesses in the South West made redundancies last year?
5% of design businesses in the South West made redundancies last year (UK average – 7%).