Southampton's port is a key driving force for industry and economy within the city and is a significant port within the UK. It is known as the principle gateway for Far Eastern imports and handles over 40 million tonnes of cargo annually, making it hugely important for trade and recruitment within Southampton.
Southampton port is the capital of the cruise industry which has a range of luxury cruise liners departing from its docks. Southampton is also the second largest container terminal in the UK. The area surrounding the docks has been redeveloped and includes the Ocean Village development, which is a residential, business and entertainment development within Southampton.
The University of Southampton is one of the top 15 research universities within the UK, and is home to over 24,000 students conducting post graduate and undergraduate studies. The University of Southampton is well ranked both within the UK and nationally, for its educational achievements.
Employers within the city of Southampton include the UK's mapping agency, Ordnance Survey, which has its headquarters in Southampton. One of the city's largest employers is Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust. Key industries for employment in Southampton include aircraft and car manufacturing as well as electrical engineering.
Southampton has a thriving economy and is doing well in the retail sector. It is home to some of the biggest high street retailers including IKEA, which opened a large store in 2009. Southampton is continually involved in regeneration projects which aim to bring even more jobs and businesses to the area, as well as more housing. Southampton remains as a great place to live and work within the UK.