Editing Isle of Wight (section)

==Economy==
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===Socio-economic data===
The table below shows the regional gross value (in millions of [[Pound sterling|pounds]]) added by the Isle of Wight economy, at current prices, compiled by the [[Office for National Statistics]].<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf published] (pp.240–253) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728091019/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf |date=28 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossvalueaddedgva/datasets/regionalgvanuts3 | publisher=Office for National Statistics | title=Annual estimates of NUTS3 regional Gross Value Added (GVA) |access-date=29 November 2016 | date=2014}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|+Regional gross value in millions of [[Pound sterling|pounds sterling]]
|-
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Regional gross<br>value added{{efn-lr|Components may not sum to totals due to rounding}}
!scope="col"| Agriculture{{efn-lr|includes hunting and forestry}}
!scope="col"| Industry{{efn-lr|includes energy and construction}}
!scope="col"| Services{{efn-lr|includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured}}
|-
!scope="row"| 1995
| '''831'''
| 28
| 218
| 585
|-
!scope="row"| 2000
|'''1,369'''
| 27
| 375
| 800
|-
!scope="row"| 2003
|'''1,521'''
| 42
| 288
| 1,161
|-
!scope="row"| 2008
|'''2,023'''
| 
| 
|
|-
!scope="row"| 2012
|'''2,175'''
| 
| 
| 
|}
{{notelist-lr}}

According to the 2011 census,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |title=Key census statistics, Isle of Wight Authority area |date=2011 |access-date=16 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106173813/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/ |archive-date=6 January 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the island's population of 138,625 lives in 61,085 households, giving an average household size of 2.27 people.

41% of households own their home outright and a further 29% own with a mortgage, so in total 70% of households are owned (compared to 68% for South East England).

Compared to South East England, the island has fewer children (19% aged 0–17 compared to 22% for the South East) and more elderly (24% aged 65+ compared to 16% for the South East), giving an average age of 44 years for an island resident compared to 40 in South East England.

===Industry and agriculture===
[[File:Newpark Farm Isle of Wight - geograph.org.uk - 70847.jpg|thumb|Fields on the island with the coast of Great Britain in the background]]
The largest industry on the island is tourism, but it also has a significant agriculture  including [[sheep farming|sheep]], [[dairy farming]] and arable [[crop]]s. Traditional agricultural commodities are more difficult to market off the island because of transport costs, but local farmers have succeeded in exploiting some specialist markets, with the higher price of such products absorbing the transport costs. One of the most successful agricultural sectors is now the growing of crops under cover, particularly salad crops including [[tomato]]es and [[cucumber]]s. The island has a warmer climate and a longer growing season than much of the United Kingdom. [[Garlic]] has been grown in [[Newchurch, Isle of Wight|Newchurch]] for many years, and is, in part, exported to France. This has led to the establishment of an annual [[Isle of Wight Garlic Festival|Garlic Festival]] at Newchurch, which is one of the largest events of the local calendar.

A favourable climate supports two [[vineyard]]s, including one of the oldest in the [[British Isles]] at [[Adgestone]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.english-wine.co.uk/ |title=Wine for Sale – Vineyard Tours, Isle of Wight |publisher=English Wine |access-date=25 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718094504/http://www.english-wine.co.uk/ |archive-date=18 July 2010  }}</ref> [[Lavender]] is grown for its oil.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lavender.co.uk/ |title=Isle of Wight lavender farm, lavender products, lavender plants, teas |publisher=Lavender.co.uk |access-date=25 September 2010}}</ref> The largest agricultural sector has been dairying, but due to low milk prices and strict legislation for UK milk producers, the dairy industry has been in decline: there were nearly 150 producers in the mid-1980s, but now just 24.{{when|date=May 2022}}

Maritime industries, especially the making of [[sailcloth]] and [[boat building]], have long been associated with the island, although this has diminished in recent years. [[GKN plc|GKN]] operates what began as the [[British Hovercraft Corporation]], a subsidiary of (and known latterly as) [[Westland Aircraft]], although they have reduced the extent of plant and workforce and sold the main site. Previously it had been the independent company [[Saunders-Roe]], one of the island's most notable historic firms that produced many [[flying boats]] and the world's first [[hovercraft]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bartiesworld.co.uk/hovercraft/saunders.htm | access-date=28 November 2016 | title=Saunders-Roe/Westland Aircraft/British Hovercraft Corporation | author=Antony Barton}}</ref>

Another manufacturing activity is in [[composite material]]s, used by boat-builders and the [[wind turbine]] manufacturer [[Vestas]], which has a wind turbine blade factory and testing facilities in [[Newport, Isle of Wight|West Medina Mills]] and [[East Cowes]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-31145066|title=Isle of Wight wind turbine firm Vestas creates 200 jobs|date=5 February 2015|newspaper=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=18 September 2016}}</ref>

[[Bembridge Airport|Bembridge Airfield]] is the home of [[Britten-Norman]], manufacturers of the [[Britten-Norman Islander|Islander]] and [[Britten-Norman Trislander|Trislander]] aircraft. This is shortly{{when|date=July 2018}} to become the site of the European assembly line for [[Cirrus Design|Cirrus]] light aircraft. The Norman Aeroplane Company is a smaller aircraft manufacturing company operating in [[Sandown]]. There have been three other firms that built planes on the island.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://daveg4otu.tripod.com/iowweb/iow.html |title=A list of aircraft and airplane manufacturers as well as airfields on the Isle of Wight |publisher=Daveg4otu.tripod.com |access-date=25 September 2010}}</ref>

In 2005, Northern Petroleum began exploratory drilling for [[petroleum|oil]] at its Sandhills-2 borehole at [[Porchfield]], but ceased operations in October that year after failing to find significant reserves.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~imw/Petroleum-South-Portland-Wight-Basin.htm | title=Petroleum Geology – South of England: The Portland – Isle of Wight Offshore Basin | publisher=Southampton University | author=Ian West | access-date=28 November 2016 | date=2016}}</ref>

====Breweries====
There are three [[Brewery|breweries]] on the island. Goddards Brewery in [[Ryde]] opened in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goddards-brewery.co.uk/aboutus.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010309182704/http://www.goddards-brewery.co.uk/aboutus.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date= 9 March 2001 |title=about us |publisher=Goddards-brewery.co.uk |access-date=25 September 2010 }}</ref> David Yates, who was head brewer of the Island Brewery, started brewing as Yates Brewery at the Inn at [[St Lawrence, Isle of Wight|St Lawrence]] in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yates-brewery.co.uk/ |title=Yates' Brewery |publisher=Yates-brewery.co.uk |access-date=25 September 2010}}</ref> Ventnor Brewery, which closed in 2009, was the last incarnation of [[Burt's Brewery]], brewing since the 1840s in [[Ventnor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ventnorbrewery.co.uk/1840.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005175720/http://www.ventnorbrewery.co.uk/1840.html|url-status=dead|title=Ventnor Brewery :: Since 1840|archivedate=5 October 2008|website=www.ventnorbrewery.co.uk}}</ref> Until the 1960s most pubs were owned by [[Mews]] Brewery, situated in Newport near [[Newport railway station (IoWCR)|the old railway station]], but it closed and the pubs were taken over by Strong's, and then by [[Whitbread]]. By some accounts Mews beer was apt to be rather cloudy and dark. In the 19th century they pioneered the use of [[screw top]] cans for export to [[British India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.invectis.co.uk/iow/pub_iw.htm |title=Isle of Wight Nostalgia|access-date=17 May 2016}}</ref>

===Services===

====Tourism and heritage====
{{See also|List of tourist attractions in the Isle of Wight}}
The island's heritage is a major asset that has for many years supported its tourist economy. Holidays focused on natural heritage, including wildlife and geology, are becoming an alternative to the traditional British [[seaside resort|seaside]] holiday, which went into decline in the second half of the 20th century due to the increased affordability of foreign holidays.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/en/isle-of-wight-guide/blog/xa-potted-history-of-isle-of-wight-holidays/ | title=A Potted History of Isle of Wight Holidays | date=2014 | publisher=redfunnel.co.uk | access-date=29 November 2016}}</ref> The island is still an important destination for coach tours from other parts of the United Kingdom.
[[File:Isle of Wight.jpg|thumb|left|[[Compton Chine]], looking east towards [[Blackgang Chine|Blackgang]]]]

Tourism is still the largest industry, and most island towns and villages offer hotels, hostels and camping sites. In 1999, it hosted 2.7 million visitors, with 1.5 million staying overnight, and 1.2 million day visits; only 150,000 of these were from abroad. Between 1993 and 2000, visits increased at an average rate of 3% per year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.investwight.com/useful-info.asp#population |title=A website with Isle of Wight statistics for investors |publisher=Investwight.com |access-date=25 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327010157/http://www.investwight.com/useful-info.asp |archive-date=27 March 2009 }}</ref>

At the turn of the 19th century the island had ten [[pleasure pier]]s, including two at [[Ryde Pier|Ryde]] and a "chain pier" at [[Seaview, Isle of Wight|Seaview]]. The Victoria Pier in Cowes succeeded the earlier Royal Pier but was itself removed in 1960. The piers at Ryde, Seaview, [[Sandown]], [[Shanklin]] and [[Ventnor]] originally served a coastal steamer service that operated from Southsea on the mainland. The piers at Seaview, Shanklin, Ventnor and [[Alum Bay]] were all destroyed by various storms during the 20th century; only the railway pier at Ryde and the piers at Sandown, [[Totland]] Bay (currently closed to the public) and Yarmouth survive.

[[Blackgang Chine]] is the oldest theme park in Britain, opened in 1843.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/21/the-worlds-oldest-amusement-parks_n_1891670.html?slideshow=true#gallery/251187/8 | work=Huffington Post | title=The World's Oldest Amusement Parks | access-date=28 November 2016| date=21 September 2012 }}</ref>  The skeleton of a dead whale that its founder Alexander Dabell found in 1844 is still on display.<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=https://vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=85074 | title=Default What happened to the National Wireless Museum? | access-date=19 June 2018}}</ref>

As well as its more traditional attractions, the island is often host to walking<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wight-walks.co.uk |title=Isle of Wight walking holidays |publisher=Wight Walks |access-date=25 September 2010}}</ref> or cycling holidays through the attractive scenery. An [[Isle of Wight Walking Festival|annual walking festival]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk/ |title=Welcome to the official website of the Isle of Wight Walking Festival 2013 |publisher=Isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk |access-date=26 March 2013}}</ref> has attracted considerable interest. The {{convert|70|mi|0|abbr=out}} [[Isle of Wight Coastal Path]] follows the coastline as far as possible, deviating onto roads where the route along the coast is impassable.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Isle+of+Wight+Coast+Path | access-date=29 November 2016 | publisher=Long Distance Walkers Association | title=Isle of Wight Coastal Path}}</ref>

The tourist board for the island is Visit Isle of Wight, a [[non-profit company]]. It is the Destination Management Organisation for the Isle of Wight, a public and private sector partnership led by the private sector, and consists of over 1,200 companies, including the ferry operators, the local bus company, rail operator and tourism providers working together to collectively promote the island. Its income is derived from the Wight BID, a [[business improvement district]] levy fund.

A major contributor to the local economy is sailing and marine-related tourism.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.iwight.com/council/committees/cabinet/28-9-05/finaltourismdevelopmentplan.pdf | date=2005 | publisher=Isle of Wight Council | title=Draft Tourism Development Plan | access-date=28 November 2016 | archive-date=6 February 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060206130222/http://www.iwight.com/council/committees/cabinet/28-9-05/finaltourismdevelopmentplan.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Summer Camp]] at Camp Beaumont is an attraction at the old [[Bembridge School]] site.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://camps.kingswood.co.uk/camp/whyHere/isle-of-wight | access-date=28 November 2016 | publisher=Kingswood Camps | title=Coastal Adventure: Isle of Wight | archive-date=29 November 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129144032/http://camps.kingswood.co.uk/camp/whyHere/isle-of-wight | url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Media====
The main local newspaper purchased is the ''[[Isle of Wight County Press]]''.  Its circulation has declined over the years, estimated at 11,575 in 2024, especially after it was taken over by [[Newsquest]] in July 2017. In 2018 a new free newspaper was launched, the ''[[Isle of Wight Observer]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Isle of Wight County Press [Circulation#93; |url=https://www.abc.org.uk/product/2663-isle-of-wight-county-press |publisher=ABC ([[Audit Bureau of Circulations (UK)]]) |access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref>

On-line news websites include ''Island Echo'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islandecho.co.uk/ |title=Island Echo |website=Island Echo |access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref> launched in May 2012, and ''On the Wight''.<ref>{{cite web|title=On the Wight|url=http://onthewight.com/|access-date=7 October 2012|website=On the Wight}}</ref>

The island has a local commercial radio station and a [[community radio]] station: commercial station [[Isle of Wight Radio]] has broadcast in the [[medium-wave]] band since 1990 and on 107.0&nbsp;MHz (with three smaller transmitters on 102.0&nbsp;MHz) [[FM broadcasting|FM]] since 1998, as well as [[Internet radio|streaming]] on the Internet.<ref>{{cite web| access-date=28 November 2016 | url=http://www.internetradiouk.com/mobile/isle-newport/ | publisher=internetradiouk.com |title=Isle of Wight Radio 107.0 Newport}}</ref> Community station [[Vectis Radio]] has broadcast online since 2010, and in 2017 started broadcasting on FM 104.6. The station operates from the Riverside Centre in Newport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vectisradio.com/|title=Vectis Radio|website=www.vectisradio.com}}</ref> The island is also covered by a number of local stations on the mainland, including the BBC station [[BBC Radio Solent]] broadcast from [[Southampton]]. The island's not-for-profit community radio station Angel Radio opened in 2007. Angel Radio began broadcasting on 91.5&nbsp;MHz from studios in Cowes and a transmitter near Newport.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://angelradioisleofwight.moonfruit.com/ |title="History of Our Station" and "Gallery" |access-date=28 October 2007 |work=Angel Radio Isle of Wight Website |archive-date=4 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904015624/http://www.angelradioisleofwight.moonfruit.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://angelradioisleofwight.com/record-library/4521473818 |title=The Record Library |access-date=20 August 2016 |work=Angel Radio Isle of Wight Website |archive-date=23 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723095914/http://angelradioisleofwight.com/record-library/4521473818 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Important broadcasting infrastructure includes [[Chillerton Down transmitting station]] with a mast that is the tallest structure on the island, and [[Rowridge transmitting station]], which broadcasts the main television signal both locally and for most of [[Hampshire]] and parts of [[Dorset]] and [[West Sussex]].<ref>{{cite web | title=The Big Tower: Chillerton Down | url=http://www.thebigtower.com/live/ChillertonDown/Index.htm | access-date=28 November 2016 | publisher=thebigtower.com}}</ref>