The North West can be divided into 5 areas: Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside and Manchester. No matter what industry, or requirements, the ideal business location is in the North West.
Cheshire has a thriving automotive industry, which includes luxury car manufacturing in Crewe, and the largest car plant in the North West in Ellesmere Port. One of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies is based in Alderley Park and is the largest medical research and development facility of its kind in the world. Chester is becoming well known as a busy financial and business support centre with many household names employing several thousand people. Petrochemicals, food and drink, and other types manufacturing have a strong heritage in Cheshire. With both Liverpool and Manchester airports nearby, coupled with a good motorway network, getting to Cheshire is easy. Whether your company is providing pioneering medical research for the masses, or catering for the millionaires of Wilmslow, Cheshire could be your perfect business location.
Half of Cumbria is designated as either a National Park, or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty attracting millions of visitors per year. The other half is divided between rural and urban areas. Barrow in Furness is the heart of the UK shipbuilding industry, and a centre for submarine production whilst Carlisle offers a variety of manufacturing and service industries as well as several flagship developments. Nuclear technology development at Sellafield is cutting edge, and plays a huge role in the Cumbrian economy. Cumbria is also leading the way in deepwater subsea engineering, thanks to the region’s maritime expertise in offshore oil and gas. The natural environment and the business environment make Cumbria as attractive to invest in, as it is to visit.
Lancashire’s £20 billion economy makes it one of the largest sub-regions in the UK, and has been at the forefront of manufacturing for over 150 years, and explains why many global aerospace and manufacturing companies continue to call Lancashire home. The region’s automotive industry comprises major companies, from car component suppliers to heavy goods vehicle manufacturers. Food and drink is the second largest industry in Lancashire and is worth over £1.5 billion per year. An impressive infrastructure including 3 international airports within easy reach and an unrivalled motorway network is helping to modernise manufacturing and engineering technology, and link Lancashire’s industrial past with the future.
Merseyside is a vibrant region, and Liverpool with the fastest growing economy in the UK, is home to many well-known companies. With expertise in pharmaceuticals, automotive, financial services, and life sciences, locating to Merseyside is an ideal business investment opportunity. Art, digital, media and creative industries are well represented, as are TV and film production, as well as information technology and website design. Liverpool is also benefiting from a massive regeneration scheme of over £4 billion. The status of European Capital of Culture for 2008, and the investment and tourism involved, is helping to promote Liverpool and Merseyside throughout the world.
Manchester is the fastest growing city region outside of London, and is rated as the most creative city in the UK. Little surprise then, that Manchester was voted Britain’s best city for business in 2006, and is the largest financial and professional centre outside London and the South East. Manchester’s strong economy is another reason why 65 out of the FTSE top 100 companies and over 60 banks have a base in the Manchester area. The regional airport is the largest airport outside of London, and transports 22m passengers per year to 200 destinations worldwide. Media plays an important role in the city, and Manchester is also soon to be home to the relocating BBC departments. Excellent business opportunities combined with outstanding shopping and leisure facilities make this North West city one of the best in the UK.
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England's North West.
