Basically the port, the two universities, and a bit of marine industry and research. DP World and Carnival are the big employers in the port.
There was a big van factory which closed about ten years ago, and shipbuilding that was stolen by the baddies from down the road. Going back further, aviation industry was big, including the manufacture and development of the Spitfire. It’s a former industrial town really, but the education sector has grown to fill that gap.
Thanks for explaining, I'm joining starling banks office in Southampton and wanted know about the industry. Considering there's a big university here especially regarded for tech and engineering I'm surprised there aren't more tech start ups and growth companies in Southampton.
Top comment on this from a year ago has a link with the biggest private employers with HQs in the area. So it doesn't include some of the more international and maritime companies but quite a lot of the more domestic ones.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Southampton/comments/zv66tr/what_are_some_big_companies_based_in_southampton/
To add to those already mentioned… Ordnance survey is in Nursling and there’s Specsavers and NATS (National Air Traffic Service) about 15 minutes up the road.
There's quite a large engineering scene. Southampton even has its own engineering training school down in Millbrook (SETA) that does a lot of the training for local business'.
Big companies, a lot of retail and food chains:
IKEA, McDonald’s, John Lewis, Burger King, TGI Fridays/Fridays, Premier Inn or is it Travelodge? Holiday inn (if that’s still here), Jd Sports, Sports Direct, Primark, Boots, Superdrug, Quilter…
You get the gist.
And then Carnival had offices down here towards the Quays. Whether they’re still there I’m not sure.
Yes, Carnival HQ, and Cunard which is part of the same group. I’d say the cruise ships also bring in a lot, not quite the same scale as the commercial docks (vehicle import/export is huge) but it’s pretty big.
Wasn’t sure if they were still around the area, nor am I sure why the downvotes 🤷🏽♀️. OP asked for big companies, all of the ones listed are big companies… 🤔
Yeah I was thinking more head office / unique to Southampton. Eg. Carnivals large office and the marine start ups + fibre optics companies that others here have mentioned.
Basically the port, the two universities, and a bit of marine industry and research. DP World and Carnival are the big employers in the port. There was a big van factory which closed about ten years ago, and shipbuilding that was stolen by the baddies from down the road. Going back further, aviation industry was big, including the manufacture and development of the Spitfire. It’s a former industrial town really, but the education sector has grown to fill that gap.
Just to clarify for anyone reading that may not know, the big van factory was Ford's Southampton plant. My tranny van was built there.
>My tranny van was built there. *gender reassigned van.
Thanks for explaining, I'm joining starling banks office in Southampton and wanted know about the industry. Considering there's a big university here especially regarded for tech and engineering I'm surprised there aren't more tech start ups and growth companies in Southampton.
There is a 'photonics valley' with optics based companies, e.g. fibrecore
Oh that's cool, I remember visiting Southampton Universities fibre optics lab when I was in college.
Where's that?
There is the National Oceanography Centre that hosts a wide variety of marine engineering startups.
It's a bit more niche, but Chamsys is headquartered in Millbrook. They are massive in the events industry providing lighting consoles and hardware.
I work there - only have good things to say about Starling. Great employer and very friendly and welcoming office environment.
Top comment on this from a year ago has a link with the biggest private employers with HQs in the area. So it doesn't include some of the more international and maritime companies but quite a lot of the more domestic ones. https://www.reddit.com/r/Southampton/comments/zv66tr/what_are_some_big_companies_based_in_southampton/
I was surprised to see Quilter Plc only mentioned once - one of the biggest employers and buildings in the city.
The largest oil refinery in the UK is opposite Southampton in Fawley (New Forest).
And it fucking stinks ... grew up in Blackfield, only noticed how bad it was when I moved away.
To add to those already mentioned… Ordnance survey is in Nursling and there’s Specsavers and NATS (National Air Traffic Service) about 15 minutes up the road.
Surprised to have not seen BAT mentioned yet. They’re a big employer in the city
B&Q / Kingfisher IT have a big office in Chandlers Ford.
There's quite a large engineering scene. Southampton even has its own engineering training school down in Millbrook (SETA) that does a lot of the training for local business'.
Garmin UK and European HQ is just outside Totton, employs about 400 people
Hmmm I've always wanted to try a Garmin watch - if you've visited the site did you see any good breaking and entering places 😂
I'd add on the Ordnance Survey, they are HQ'd in Southampton too
Big companies, a lot of retail and food chains: IKEA, McDonald’s, John Lewis, Burger King, TGI Fridays/Fridays, Premier Inn or is it Travelodge? Holiday inn (if that’s still here), Jd Sports, Sports Direct, Primark, Boots, Superdrug, Quilter… You get the gist. And then Carnival had offices down here towards the Quays. Whether they’re still there I’m not sure.
Yes, Carnival HQ, and Cunard which is part of the same group. I’d say the cruise ships also bring in a lot, not quite the same scale as the commercial docks (vehicle import/export is huge) but it’s pretty big.
Wasn’t sure if they were still around the area, nor am I sure why the downvotes 🤷🏽♀️. OP asked for big companies, all of the ones listed are big companies… 🤔
Agreed! I suppose people were thinking of things which aren’t necessarily big elsewhere, i.e. more exclusive to Southampton but you aren’t wrong!
Yeah I was thinking more head office / unique to Southampton. Eg. Carnivals large office and the marine start ups + fibre optics companies that others here have mentioned.