Gloucestershire is the northernmost county in the South West, comprising six districts – Cheltenham, Cotswold, Forest of Dean, Gloucester, Stroud and Tewkesbury. Gloucestershire’s businesses have the second highest innovation activity level amongst all LEPs alongside, it has an abundance of SME’s in cyber and Agri-Tech with high growth potential.
The celebrated three-fold division of ‘forest, vale and high blue hill’ has shaped the nature of agriculture within the county. The Vale of Gloucester is traditionally associated with dairy farming and pasture for beef plus orchards, while the Cotswolds are the realm of sheep and cereal crops. The Forest of Dean offers a mix, primarily silviculture (forest vegetation) and sheep on the higher ground, but with arable and orchard on the rich narrow lowlands.
Food and agriculture are one of the largest and fastest growing sectors in the county, valued at nearly £1.5 billion and supporting over 50,000 jobs.
Gloucestershire has the largest and fastest growing network of high growth SMEs in Agri-Tech, with 75% operating in mainland Europe and 25% operating in the U.S. and Africa, creating exciting opportunities for partnerships and investment.