The UK’s regions, each with specialist sector expertise and a wealth of support networks, offer overseas businesses many options when considering an investment location. With a population of 60 million, the United Kingdom (which comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) is a diverse and exciting option for UK and international businesses.
The UK has 12 regions, each with their own development agency whose job it is to promote economic growth in the area. They do this is by helping non-UK companies set up and expand within their region. If you’re looking to set up here, these agencies can provide comparative data across regions, in the UK and beyond.
Regional expertise varies from aerospace to food and drink, with each supported by business incubators and research and development facilities to help businesses add competitive advantage and thrive.
This is the 4 of the 12 regions.
East of England
Known worldwide for its activity in R&D and its knowledge-based business, the region is home to the University of Cambridge.
Business facts
The East of England spends three times the national average on commercial R&D and has the UK’s largest concentration of R&D engineers per capital.
The region is home to seven universities including the University of Cambridge – ranked second university in the world according to the The Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Times Educational Supplement.
Cambridge alone is home to 185 biotech companies and a quarter of Europe’s publicly-quoted biotechs. Norwich is home to the largest concentration of plant, food and microbial scientists in Europe.
East Midlands
Businesses locating in the region benefit from a range of research facilities, a cost-competitive location and an area of scenic beauty.
Business Facts
East Midlands Airport is the UK’s largest pure air freight terminal
The region offers a cost-competitive location offering office rents 35% below that national average.
Nine excellent universities are located in the East Midlands offering award-winning research from 550 research groups.
Specialist research facilities are available to businesses.
The region has some of the shortest commuting times in the Country (on average 21 minutes).
Located within the ‘golden triangle’ of the M1, M6 and M69 – major roads in the UK – the region gives excellent access to the whole of the UK.
London
With its world-leading financial hub, strong creative base and rich cultural diversity the UK capital is officially Europe’s top location for international business.
London is Europe’s financial capital, with nearly 2,000 UK headquartered companies listed on the London markets producing an aggregate market capitalisation of nearly £1.4 trillion ($2.5 trillion).
London is the undisputed city leader for foreign direct investment in Europe, creating global investment of £38 billion ($70 billion).
At the centre of the international time zones, at the hub of transcontinental routes, and as a gateway to the EU London was voted Europe’s most internationally accessible city in 2004.
Northern Ireland
Balancing high growth in knowledge sectors with low business costs and easy access to European destinations, the region has a track record of attracting high-profile inward investors.
Key facts
The region has one of the youngest populations in Europe with students consistently performing well above other UK regions at GCSE and A-Level. Northern Ireland’s people have a strong work ethic and labour turnover rates among the lowest in Europe.
Northern Ireland’s operating costs are highly competitive and significantly lower than the rest of the UK and Europe. Prime office rents are among the lowest in the world.
Northern Ireland has become the first region in Europe to have 100 per cent access to broadband. It will be the first UK region to be fully migrated to British Telecom’s (BT’s) state-of-the-art 21st Century Network (21CN).
Software and financial services are among the sectors experiencing the fastest growth. Belfast has recently been ranked as the top location in the British Isles for customer call and contact-centre based activities.
Northern’s Ireland’s internationally renowned universities have been key drivers in the development of the region’s technology and knowledge industries. Queen’s University, Belfast and the University of Ulster have a strong track record in commercialisation of research and in spinning-off successful business ventures.
Cecilia Helland