In a time of so much doom and despair it is uplifting to see the resilience of the south coast in the face of considerable national panic.
While the region has certain natural advantages, such as significant ports, it still is home to an industry that has been hard hit by the virus, the cruise liner business where Southampton is the home port for some serious ships.
On the other hand the region has its fair share of technology and defence companies and has tended to attract thriving new businesses.
Also, like other regions, it has need for logistics space to feed the e-commerce expansion.
To some extent the vibrancy of its companies is indicated by Russell Mogridge’s analysis of companies seeking offices of enhanced quality and larger areas to ensure social distancing. However he also notes that employees, who were initially happy about working from home in the summer, are finding it a constraint and desire the buzz and interplay of the offices.
Companies have been increasingly concerned about a decline in productivity because of so many employees working from home.
Now the question arises at the tail end of 2020; whether the resilience of the south coast in the face of a crisis can be translated next year into substantial bounce in the market and the local economy when we come out of the lockdown.