There are plenty of careers in Cornwall working for some of the county’s biggest industries. Many of the region’s top employers offer great learning initiatives to develop or build upon skills and talents. They help to grow the economy while training local people and giving them a clear career path. But what are these top industries and how can you find work within them? 

 

Top Cornish industries

Cornwall is known for its mining, tourism and fishing industries. However, anybody within Cornwall knows that the county actually flourishes in many different types of industry. In fact, ten of Cornwall’s biggest industries encompass those that were mentioned and more.

Data and Space

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are playing a vital role in the UK’s plans to have 10% of the £400bn global space market by 2030. The massive investment in this industry means that more and more careers in Cornwall will be working towards growing this sector. Currently, there are over 200 courses available in related fields such as geography and geospace, computer science and engineering.

Clean Energy

Did you know that around 40% of Cornwall’s electricity comes from renewable sources? Our unique landscape makes it perfect for generating several different types of clean energy. Currently, the county uses an estimated £500m of energy each year, much of which is imported from outside of Cornwall and dependent on fossil fuels. In a bid to combat this, investment and innovation into creating clean energy sources right here in Cornwall has meant a boom in our clean energy industry. With an important and in-demand future, more and more people will be needed to work in this sector.

Construction

The construction industry continues to be just as important as it always has been. This important work underpins society and many of Cornwall’s biggest industries wouldn’t be so without construction.

Today, the industry encompasses over 200 different job roles, from physically handling materials and building on site to planning important infrastructure for the clean energy or space industry. There is so much potential to progress and grow in this career and work your way up to a top-tier position or branch out and become a business owner. 

Creative 

Recent investment into the creative industry has seen the Cornish creator sector grow significantly. This flexible industry often sees people working creative roles in non-creative sectors where you may not have thought to look. The creative sector only makes up about 3% of the Cornish economy however this is set to grow with freelancers and small businesses popping up more often.

Engineering and Manufacturing

Like construction, the engineering and manufacturing industry supports many of the other industries in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Due to the variety of the businesses, and skills shortages in the county, there are a range of different careers and specialists needed in this sector.  

Digital

Cornwall is home to the fastest growing tech sector in the South West. With technology in almost every business, this role is varied and can see you working with a wide range of businesses. Demand is increasing and key sectors to look out for are screen and creative, spacetech, agritech and marinetech.

Health and Social Care

The NHS is the largest employer of health and social care workers in Cornwall. This large and complex sector is made up of both clinical and non-clinical roles with the private sector and voluntary organisations providing additional services. Currently, there are around 33,000 employees working in this sector across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, however there is always a demand for more health and social care workers. 

Land Based

In Cornwall, more land is dedicated to farming and food than the national average and as a result more people are employed in the industry here too. More than just farming, this sector encompasses veterinarian roles, agritech, horticulture and food processing. This sector currently makes up 4% of the Cornish economy, and with 60% more food predicted to be needed by 2050, this industry will only grow. 

Marine

There are hundreds of small, medium and international marine companies operating across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Jobs span the leisure and tourism, commercial and support services sectors. This diverse industry could see you working on cruise ships, repairing boats or working in marine law. There are just over 15,000 people employed in this Cornish industry as well as over 1,000 volunteers.

Visitor Economy

The visitor economy makes up 15% of Cornwall’s economy and there are plenty of careers in Cornwall related to this. With over 4 million overnight visits and 14 million day trips every year, Cornwall relies on the hard work of cleaners, hospitality staff and catering assistants to uphold this important industry. In fact, the success of the county’s visitor economy industry generates £2bn of visitor spend every year.

 

Revealing a career path

Depending on the sector you would like to go into, there are many different routes to securing a career in Cornwall. However, most employers will be expecting at least some prior experience or qualifications. Whether your pathway is academic or vocational, knowing the requirements for different roles and job sectors plays a big part in securing opportunities.

Some of the county’s top employers within these sectors have partnered with local educational providers to create learning opportunities and career pathways for local people. Cornwall College and Truro and Penwith College provide skills bootcamps, apprenticeships and a variety of courses to help people reskill or train and develop their employability and career skills.

A&P Falmouth is one of the largest ship-repair complexes in the UK. They host their own award-winning apprenticeship programme which provides apprentices with clear progression pathways. In addition, they offer work experience and a graduate recruitment programme to welcome aboard people of all skill levels and abilities.

Philema Hospitality Management owns a collection of award-winning hotels and spas across the South West. This family-owned company operate with a focus on development, wellbeing and team engagement. They take on hospitality apprentices and offer team training programmes to existing members of the team as well.

 

Cornwall Opportunities

  There are plenty of opportunities to be found in Cornwall no matter which stage of your career you are in. The career outlooks for these varied job roles come from the thriving industries working and growing within the county. 

Cornwall Opportunities aims to make it easier than ever to find a career in Cornwall by signposting local people to careers, education and support. To explore other employers who are offering skills training and jobs within the county, visit our Employer Spotlights page

You can also use the Careers Directory to comb through sectors and jobs which sound appealing to you. Then, uncover which qualifications and career path you may need to take to get there.  

Finally, you can read the Cornwall Opportunities magazine for free to learn more about support services offering free career advice in Cornwall.