Inside Devon Chamber of Commerce’s regional Strategy for 2026 and Beyond
At the final Lunch & Learn session of the year, Devon Chamber of Commerce’s Clare Baker offered a compelling look at what’s ahead for Devon’s business community. With a new CEO in post Helen Wylde Archibald, and a renewed focus on collaboration, data, and inclusive economic growth, the Chamber is preparing to enter 2026 with clarity and ambition.
From global trade opportunities to skills development and digital innovation, the session captured a vision of Devon as more than a beautiful place to visit. It is a county full of doers: entrepreneurs, educators, manufacturers, technologists, creatives, and community builders each uniquely positioned to contribute to the UK’s resilience and long-term prosperity.
Devon: A County of Thinkers, Makers and Problem-Solvers
Clare opened by challenging the idea that Devon is simply a place for holidays and scenery. For those who live and work here, Devon is deep-rooted, ambitious, and increasingly future-facing. Even newcomers become embedded quickly being connected to place, community, and opportunity.
Devon is already home to:
- Food producers
- Defence and security specialists
- Advanced manufacturers
- Digital pioneers
- World-class educators
- A vibrant creative sector
Together, these industries are tackling major challenges: food security, national preparedness, clean energy, digital futures, and social inclusion. That diversity and capability is the foundation of the Chamber’s strategic plan.
A Strong Alignment with the Freeport Mission
Throughout the session, Clare emphasised how closely the Chamber’s priorities align with the Plymouth & South Devon Freeport particularly around innovation, inward investment, international trade and high-value job creation. Both organisations view collaboration, data and purposeful growth as essential to Devon’s long-term prosperity.
Introducing Five Pillars for Devon’s Future
The Chamber outlined five strategic pillars that will drive its work in 2026 and beyond.
1. Global Devon
Supporting exporters, opening new overseas markets, strengthening international partnerships and working closely with the Freeport to attract inward investment. The Chamber’s international trade team will play a key role in connecting businesses to global opportunities.
2. The Future of Work
Skills are the biggest barrier and opportunity for growth. The Chamber will work with the Local Skills Improvement Plan, FE sector and employers to accelerate upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning pathways.
3. Digital Devon
With AI and digital transformation moving fast, smaller businesses are uncertain where to start. The Chamber intends to demystify digital adoption and make Devon a leader in safe, strategic digital innovation.
4. Devon Green Innovation
ESG, net zero and social value remain core to Devon’s identity. This includes supporting the county’s strong voluntary and community sector, which faces unique challenges and opportunities.
5. Local Economies of the Future
Devon is vast and varied with cities, coasts, rural clusters, market towns and, of course, Dartmoor. The Chamber will move towards place-based work, ensuring representation across Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay, South Devon, North Devon, East and Mid Devon. Each area has different needs, strengths and growth drivers.
Fourteen Priority Sectors
Based on early data analysis, the Chamber identified 14 sectors that will drive Devon’s future growth:
- Marine & Defence
- Education
- Healthcare & Social Care
- Construction
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Transport & Logistics
- Finance & Professional Services
- Clean Energy
- Life Sciences
- Creative Industries
- Digital & Technology
- Professional Business Services
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Farming & Food
These will guide the Chamber’s sector boards, skills programmes and lobbying work.
A Call for Collaboration
One of the session’s standout themes was collaboration. Devon has enormous passion distributed across businesses, institutions, innovators and civic leaders — but too often operating in isolation. Clare emphasised the need to:
- Build a county-wide stakeholder map
- Bring people together instead of duplicating effort
- Amplify shared strengths
- Advocate collectively to government
- Align messaging, place strategies and sector priorities
As Investment and Business Growth Director, Eifion Jones, noted during the Q&A, when we mobilise Devon’s ambassadors, we create critical mass and a compelling voice on the national and international stage. It amounts to a regional groundswell we’re all proud to be a part of.
Looking Ahead
To build momentum and deepen engagement, the Chamber will host a major event on 22 January at Newton Abbot Racecourse, chaired by CEO Helen Wild Archibald. All members and stakeholders — public, private and third sector — will be invited to shape the strategy and explore opportunities to get involved.
The Chamber’s emerging strategy places Devon firmly on the front foot: globally connected, digitally confident, skills-ready and purpose-driven. It recognises the county’s diversity, ambitions and potential — and seeks to harness them through collaboration, insight and coordinated action.
As Clare said, this is about building a Devon that is ambitious, inclusive and ready for the future.
And that future starts now.
Clare Baker can be contacted via Clare.Baker@devonchamber.co.uk
For more info about DCC visit https://devonchamber.co.uk