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Until the beginning of the twentieth century the economy of Portland was based on agriculture, fishing, and quarrying.
In the nineteenth century convict labour was brought in to build the Portland breakwater. Today the Home Office maintains three penal institutions on the Island. These make a significant contribution to the economy.
For more than one hundred years after the building of the breakwater the Royal Navy played a significant part in the life of the island.
In recent years the government withdrew all defence related industry from the island and the future became very uncertain. Fortunately, the main MoD establishment at Southwell has been privately purchased and is now Southwell Business Park, housing a growing number of small and medium sized companies. The Naval Base has been taken over by Portland Port who are making use of the berthing and bunkering facilities and have taken responsibility for the management of the harbour, and the Royal Naval Air Station is to become the Royal Yachting Association's "centre of excellence" and will play a major role in the training of Britain's Olympic sailors. It also houses an American company building luxury craft.
Portland also several small business parks, producing a variety of products from electronics to ready mixed concrete.
The commercial future of Portland is bright, with an attractive environment which has an increasing appeal to tourists, and also very favourable business opportunities.
More and more companies are moving to this delightful part of Britain.
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