Standard Grade Geography The Human Environment Light Industry

Definition A Light industry is a manufacturing industry that uses light, raw materials in small amount to produce light or small goods. Eg: watches or television sets.

Location of light industries Near fast transport Offered government aid Near to market Near a labour supply

Industrial estates Many light industries are located on industrial estates or business parks. These are planned areas in towns and cities where only factories and offices can be built.

Example

Industrial estate location On land where planning permission is easily obtained On cheap, flat land On land where expansion is possible Close to fast communications, especially main roads

How do you think the government could do this? Assisted areas A assisted areas are areas helped by the government to improve unemployment and attract industry. How do you think the government could do this?

Types of regional aid Offering low rents and rates for the first few years Training the local labour force in the skills required Giving grants and loans to factories that set up in the area. Providing ready-made factories with services laid on Building more roads to serve the area

Assisted areas in Scotland Enterprise zones Assisted areas in Scotland

The electronics industry The electronics industry is an example of a high-technology industry. In makes items that require microchips – tiny chips of silica in which thousands of bits of information can be stored. Eg: computers and microwave ovens.

The electronics industry locates Where there is regional aid (because there are so many suitable places) Near main roads and airports (most raw materials can be transported by air) Near skilled labour (often close to universities) In an attractive environment (to attract the highly skilled people it needs)

Electronics in Scotland In Scotland most electronics companies have set up in the central lowlands (known as Silicon Glen), especially near the big towns. These areas have had regional aid and they are also near universities and airports.

The location of electronics companies in Scotland

Your turn Read page 71 all core question.

Footloose Industries Imagine you owned your own footloose industry. Where in the world would you have it and why? Try and think of at least 4 things. What do you think this means? It is industry that can choose it’s own location. This means that a whole new set of things become important.

Case Study

Three factors need to be mentioned for full marks. If not mark out of four. Max 1 for description eg ‘beside a main road, close to university’ etc Example: Research Links Industries on the science park can make use of research carried out at nearby Southampton university (1) and use the research facilities of the university to develop and improve their products (1).

Example: Skilled Workers There will be a highly qualified supply of graduates from the university available for employment (1) opportunities for student placements to enhance and bring new ideas to their business (1). Skilled workers will be available from the many towns nearby eg Winchester, Basingstoke (1).

Example: Good Access Good road communications to allow workers easy access to and from their work (1) close to M27 and M3 allowing parts and products to be easily transported and distributed (2) a rail service to Waterloo allows staff access to the facilities of London, avoiding the traffic problems of the city (1). Close to Southampton and Heathrow airports allowing staff access to conferences and meetings in the UK, Europe and World destinations (1) and worldwide transportation of products (1). Close to the ports of Portsmouth and Southampton allowing components to be shipped in and out by sea (1). 5 ES