The Welsh Development Agency (WDA)

While the number of employees is low, IT/software is seen as vital to the future well-being of the economy. With close links to Swansea University and Swansea Institute of Higher Education, the Swansea Bay Partnership works hard to nurture this key sector.

Technium 1 and Technium 2 at the new SA1 waterfront development in Swansea, and the Digital Technium based on the University Campus, are incubator facilities where small ideas-based companies can be established and grow. The Techniums benefit from close links with University staff; high broadband width and access; and the proximity of like-minded people working in related or overlapping areas.

Graduate and postgraduate placements can boost your skills pool without great costs. And there is a steady stream of high-calibre graduate programmers, designers and software engineers anxious to remain in the area for its quality of life. For one employer, staff turnover at their Swansea site was 3%, compared to 16% in southeast England and 22% in the Netherlands.