Welcome to the North West

By Steve Smith, Chairman, British American Business Council in the North West

The North West of England is massive, in size and in influence. Since the industrial revolution, the North West region has been at the forefront of national prosperity and international trade and has abundant resources to create wealth and improve economic performance. At the center of the North West , Manchester, with its wide knowledge base, highly efficient international transport connections, its social and cultural assets, is set to establish itself as a world-class knowledge capital along with Seattle, Boston, Atlanta, Helsinki and Barcelona. These cities share Manchester’s global reach, thirst for innovation and ability to deliver high value added.

Just 40 miles from Manchester lies Liverpool – European Capital of Culture in 2008 and already a World Heritage Site. But Liverpool, and the Merseyside region, is not only about cultural achievements; it is the North West region’s biggest port, helping to deliver a £3.3 billion turnover from the North West region’s maritime sector which provides employment for 18,000 workers.

North West knowledge economy has developed a series of business clusters developed as part of a clear economic strategy, supported by public and private investment. With a thriving £111 billion economy, the 12th largest in Europe, a population of nearly seven million people and 230,000 successful businesses, England’s North West operates on a truly international scale. The North West Region is larger than several European countries and is home to 12% of the UK’s population. The North West lies at the geographical center of the British Isles, a market of over 61 million people, and is part of a growing European Economic Area of almost 400 million people, all within four hours flight, or two days drive.

The two major metropolitan areas of Manchester and Liverpool in the North West are known worldwide, and are home to international companies, the leading providers of legal and financial services, and major media organizations in broadcast and publishing. In the growing industries of biotech and pharmaceutical life sciences, in environmental technology and medical equipment, in computer software and services, in tourism and in creative industries and e-commerce, the North West region’s brightest companies and proud universities have led the way. Manchester was voted one of the world’s top seven intelligent communities of 2006.

Traditional industries have also evolved in the North West to maximize the opportunities of a changing world. Chemicals, textiles, aerospace, engineering, automotive and aerospace, food and drink, and energy from wave power to nuclear still provide an economic bedrock, but growth is also coming from sectors such as creative and digital. Exciting times lie ahead for this sector as the BBC is due to complete the relocation of significant production and commissioning departments from London to the state-of-the-art MediaCityUK at Salford Quays in 2010; a development which is forecast to create over 15,000 jobs in the North West and provide space for about 1,150 media-related businesses.

The 11 North West based universities make a major contribution to the North West region’s growth through their strong links with business and commerce, and their focus on business research and development. Thirty per cent of 40 000 graduates in the North West each year are in science and engineering disciplines. The North West of England has excellent communications networks. Manchester Airport is the UK’s third-largest airport handling 22 million passengers in 2007 to over 270 worldwide destinations. It has daily direct flights to Chicago, New York, Washington, Boston, Atlanta and Florida. Its World Freight Terminal handles 150,000 tonnes of inbound and outbound freight annually.

Liverpool Airport is one of the fastest-growing regional airports serving a host of leisure and business destinations across Europe, whilst the Port of Liverpool dominates container trade with North America and serves over 100 other non-EU world destinations. The North West of England sits astride the West Coast Main Line, the North West region’s primary rail artery, with a network of fast links to London and the south, the east coast, and north into Scotland.

It is in sheer quality of life that the North West region really excels: in fact, there are many situations where the inward investment decision has been clinched by the North West region’s surroundings, the environment, its leisure facilities, and the welcome of its people. The North West is a region with a rich cultural life, with theaters, libraries and art galleries that rival the best in Europe, with a passion for sports and a creative music industry. From the rolling hills of the Pennines to the spectacular scenery of the Lake District, from the Cheshire plains to Cumbrian coast, there is something for everyone.

So, if you are looking toward Europe from across the Atlantic, there’s no better place to choose for your gateway than the North West of England. With almost seven million people ready to welcome you to the North West region, 60 million in easy reach across the country, and an expanding European market just over the horizon, the North West is your ideal base in the UK, and your best route into Europe.

The British American Business Council in the North West works closely with UK Trade & Investment, the North West International Trade Centre in Manchester, Chambers of Commerce in the North West, Enterprise Europe Network and the Regional Development Agency – and with these partners offers practical advice and assistance to companies looking to develop transatlantic business, to find partners or to locate in the North West as a gateway to the UK and Europe.

For more North West information, visit:
Website: www.babcnw.org

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