Business South Champions, Associates and Local Businesses joined British Marine and sponsors – Chewton Glen and Cunard – for an insightful Luxury South Action Group Directors Breakfast at TheYachtmarket.com Southampton Boat Show, 18th September 2018.
Professor Joanne Roberts, Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton and Director of the Winchester Luxury Research Group provided a fascinating overview of the luxury sector, globally and within the UK. The sector contributes £32.2 billion to the UK economy, employs over 113,000 across the UK and it accounts for 2.2% of GDP. It is set to grow too! Luxury Cruises are on the up globally, with year on year growth, bucking the trend of other sectors. Interestingly, another area of luxury, time and wellbeing, is growing as ‘health becomes the new wealth’.
In the South, as outlined by Professor Roberts, there are vast opportunities for the luxury sector. The region is home to many luxury producers including yachts, cars, cruises, fine wines, hospitality and legal & financial service providers.
Luxury South’s Chair and Cunard Brand Partnerships and Events Manager, Cristina Muñoz, (Click here to see an interview with Cristina), highlighted the key plans for Luxury South’s Action Group. The Group is a mix of Business South Champions with an interest and association with the luxury market who volunteer their time to discuss and identify the opportunities of growth within the region.
The Champions involved are:
Winchester School of Art Luxury Research Group, University of Southampton
Glow, a long time Business South Champion, loves being part of the Luxury South Action Group. Lisa Lavis, Glow’s MD, is a keen advocate of building relationships with businesses, education & local social communities, and Business South plus the Luxury South Action Group is a great platform to do this. And of course, it’s a bonus working alongside a few of the South’s beautiful brands 😉.
An exciting medium to long term plan is to produce a trail to map out the many luxury products and services already existing in the area; to bring together the luxury brands throughout the South.
The Luxury South Action Group works closely alongside the other four existing Business South forums – Regenerate South, Cruise & Port, Digital South, Workforce South – to enhance the attractiveness of the region, promoting it as a great area to work, live and visit, attracting and retaining skilled work force & HQs – all priorities identified by Champions.
Summing up the presentations, Gary Coulson, Business South Board Director spoke about the great opportunities within Business South. “Business South is a platform for business in the region, politically and socially. It is great for relationships and communities and with over 250 business partners it exemplifies communication”.
For more information on Business South, The Luxury South Action Group or the other forums, contact Anna Hales, Business South Team Leader – Communications, Strategy & Campaigns, 02380 38193
E: anna@businesssouth.org, https://businesssouth.org/
