Economy of Dorset

Boats at Portland Harbour

Statistics
Population| 384,809 (2023)[1]
GDP| £11.4 billion (2023)[1]

GDP per capita

| £29,573 (2023)[1]

The economy of the County of Dorset in South West England was worth £16.189 billion to the UK economy in 2013.

## History

[edit]

Historically, agriculture has dominated the Dorset economy, but over time it has decreased in importance. Dorset was the birthplace of the trade union movement, with the Tolpuddle Martyrs hailing from the county.

Being a coastal county, smuggling has been a dominant part of the Dorset economy with the Battle of Mudeford being fought in 1784 at Mudeford Quay, Mudeford, Christchurch. Fleet and Kinson were also home to smugglers.[2]

The COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom has damaged the economy heavily.[3][4]

## Corporate economy

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Barclays in Poole Town Centre

Barclays Bank once had a regional headquarters in Poole Town Centre. Merlin Entertainments is also based in Poole.

## Defence industry

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Dorset is home to a number of Ministry of Defence facilities that employ many people; RM Poole, Lulworth Ranges, Bovington Camp and the Wyke Regis Training Area.

## Digital economy

[edit]

Redweb, a leading firm in the digital and creative industry of Dorset was liquidated in December 2021.[5]

## Environment

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In 2015, Dorset County Council reported that the environmental economy was worth between £0.9 billion and £2.5 billion per annum; and supports between 17,000 and 61,000 jobs.[6]

## Manufacturing

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Factories in Dorset include those at Ryvita and Sunseeker.

## Maritime industry

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The maritime transport industry of Dorset is based at the Port of Poole in Poole and the Portland Harbour at the Isle of Portland.

## Media

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Dorset is home to newspapers; Dorset Echo and the Bournemouth Daily Echo.

## Retail

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Dorset is the headquarters for a number of retail companies. The cosmetics company Lush was founded and is headquartered in Poole.

Hobbycraft has headquarters in Christchurch and New Look has corporate headquarters in Weymouth.

Dolphin Shopping Centre in Poole is the largest indoor shopping centre in Dorset.[7]

## Science and Technology

[edit]

The Dorset Green Technology Park employs many people.[8]

HeliOperations is based on the Isle of Portland.

## Tourism

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The prehistoric Durdle Door

Tourism in Dorset is valued at £1bn a year 40,000 people are employed in the industry.[9]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Regional economic activity by gross domestic product, UK: 1998 to 2023". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
2. ^ BBC. "Smugglers Cove - in Kinson?". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
3. ^ "Second lockdown 'a potential massive blow' to Dorset economy amid business fears". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
4. ^ "Coronavirus report: Dorset will suffer badly due to effects on economy, education and health". Bridport and Lyme Regis News. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
5. ^ "Leading firm in Dorset's digital industry to be wound up by liquidators". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
6. ^ "Dorset's Environmental Economy" (PDF). Dorset County Council: 118. 2015.
7. ^ "Poole Tourism". 28 September 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
8. ^ "Dorset Innovation Park | Enterprise Zones". Retrieved 20 January 2021.
9. ^ "Tourism crucial to Dorset's economic recovery". Dorset LEP. Retrieved 20 January 2021.

## See also

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* List of ceremonial counties in England by gross value added

* v
* t
* e

Ceremonial county of Dorset

Unitary authorities|

* Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (areas and suburbs)
* Dorset

Major settlements
(cities in italics)|

* Beaminster
* Blandford Forum
* Bournemouth
* Bridport
* Broadstone
* Chickerell
* Christchurch
* Corfe Mullen
* Dorchester
* Ferndown
* Gillingham
* Highcliffe
* Lyme Regis
* Merley
* Poole
* Shaftesbury
* Sherborne
* Stalbridge
* Sturminster Newton
* Swanage
* Upton
* Verwood
* Wareham
* Weymouth
* Wimborne Minster
See also: List of civil parishes in Dorset

Rivers|

* Allen
* Asker
* Avon
* Axe
* Bourne
* Bride
* Brit
* Cerne
* Char
* Corfe
* Crane
* Frome
* Hooke
* Moors
* Piddle
* Simene
* Stour
* Sydling Water
* Tarrant
* Wey

Topics|

* Flag
* Settlements
* Beaches
* Churches
* County Council
* Economy
* Places
* Population of major settlements
* Geology
* Geography
* SSSIs
* Healthcare
* History (English Civil War)
* Schools
* Tourism
* Lord Lieutenants
* High Sheriffs
* Museums
* People
* Transport
* Grade I listed buildings
* Grade II listed buildings
* Grade II* listed buildings
* Scheduled monuments
* South West Coast Path
* Portal:Dorset

* v
* t
* e

Economy of the United Kingdom

Companies|

* Co-operatives
* Employee-owned companies
* FTSE 100 Index
* FTSE 250 Index
* FTSE Fledgling Index
* FTSE SmallCap Index
* Government-owned companies

Currency,
governance,
regulation|

* Bank of England
* Governor of the Bank of England
* Monetary Policy Committee
* Budget
* Company law
* Competition and Markets Authority
* Department for Business and Trade
* Financial Conduct Authority
* Gilts
* HM Revenue & Customs
* HM Treasury
* Chancellor of the Exchequer
* Debt Management Office
* Office for Budget Responsibility
* Pound sterling
* Banknotes
* Coinage
* Taxation
* UK Statistics Authority
* UK Trade & Investment

History|

| Chronological|

* 1659–1849 Navigation Acts
* Agricultural Revolution
* Industrial Revolution
* Financial Revolution
* Panic of 1796–97
* 1815–46 Corn Laws
* New Imperialism 1830s–1945
* Second Industrial Revolution 1860s–1914
* 1873–79 Long Depression
* 1926 general strike
* 1929–39 Great Depression
* 1948–52 Marshall Plan
* 1974 Three-Day Week
* 1979 Winter of Discontent
* 1986 Big Bang
* 1992 Black Wednesday
* Late-2000s recession
* 2008 bank rescue package
* 2009 bank rescue package
* 2020 Withdrawal from the European Union (Growth deal)
* COVID-19 pandemic
* Impact
* Cost-of-living crisis

|

Recurrent|

* Economic geography
* Free trade
* Gold standard
* Recessions and recoveries
* National champions policy
* Economic liberalism
* Privatisation
* Nationalisation

Nations,
regions,
cities|

| England|

* Atlantic Gateway
* Birmingham
* Big City Plan
* Bristol
* Cornwall
* Croydon
* Devon
* Dorset
* Expansion plans for Milton Keynes
* Fishing
* Leeds
* List of counties by GDP
* List of counties by GVA
* Liverpool
* London
* East London Tech City
* London Plan
* M4 corridor
* M11 Corridor
* Manchester
* Reading
* Sheffield
* Silicon Fen
* Somerset
* Thames Gateway
* Tourism
* Transport
* Wiltshire

|

Northern
Ireland|

* Belfast
* Transport

Scotland|

* Aberdeen
* Agriculture
* Edinburgh
* Industrialisation
* Fishing
* History
* Oil and gas
* Renewable energy
* Silicon Glen
* Tourism
* Transport
* Whisky

Wales|

* Agriculture
* Cardiff (Cardiff Bay)
* Fishing
* History
* Industrialisation
* Renewable energy
* Swansea
* Tourism
* Transport

People
and labour|

* Billionaires
* Businesspeople
* Demography
* Income
* Poverty
* Labour law
* Equal opportunities
* Minimum wage
* Working Time Directive
* Pensions
* Trades unions
* Trades Union Congress
* Unemployment

Sectors|

| Resource and
production|

* Energy/Renewable energy
* Biodiesel
* Coal
* Geothermal
* Fracking
* Hydroelectricity
* Marine
* North Sea oil
* Solar
* Wind
* Food
* Agriculture
* Cider
* Dairy
* Wine
* Beer
* Fishing
* English
* Scottish
* Welsh
* Materials
* Forestry
* Mining
* Steel

|

Financial
services|

* Baltic Exchange
* Banking
* History
* List of banks
* List of UK building societies
* Canary Wharf
* The City
* Euronext.liffe
* Glasgow International Financial Services District
* Insurance
* Lloyd's of London
* LCH
* London Interbank Offered Rate
* London Metal Exchange
* London Platinum and Palladium Market
* London Stock Exchange
* Alternative Investment Market

Other|

* Education
* International students
* Entertainment & Media
* Cinema
* Gambling
* Newspapers
* Radio
* Television
* Theatre
* Healthcare
* Legal services
* Manufacturing
* Aerospace
* Automotive
* Pharmaceuticals
* Exports
* Property
* Architecture
* Construction
* Housing
* Real estate
* Science and technology
* Internet
* Telecommunications
* Supermarkets
* Tourism
* Transport
* Aviation
* Rail
* Inter-city
* High-speed

Trade and
business
organisations|

* Business organisations
* British Bankers' Association
* British Chambers of Commerce
* Confederation of British Industry
* Co-operatives UK
* Federation of Small Businesses
* Industry trade groups
* Institute of Directors
* Make UK
* UK Payments Administration

* Category
* Commons

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