Posted on April 24, 2010.
What is on offer to businesses looking to relocate to Leeds More than 440,000 people work in Leeds with employment should increase by 1/3rd over the next 10 years. In the recent European Cities Monitor 2009 survey by Cushman & Wakefield, Leeds has been ranked 24th of the leading city for business. Factors considered in determining the final ranking was access to markets, availability of quality personnel, communication and transportation. Staff costs and value for money offices were the next two important factors - Leeds come first and sixth respectively.
The city is a great shopping destination with more than 1,000 stores and 4.3 million square feet of retail stores. Leeds district is two thirds the area green belt and Yorkshire Dales National Park is less than 20 miles from downtown.
Leeds has developed as one of the main centers of trading and financial services outside London. With the headquarters of First Direct, Halifax Direct and Direct Line, more than 110,000 people are employed in a sector which represents 25% of the GDP of the city. The service sector employs 80% of the total population in the city. Other major employers include two universities, a large teaching hospital and several ministries including the Ministry of Health.
However, the rich tradition of the city in the manufacturing sector is also present in the composition of business today. Engineering, printing, food production and chemical companies are well represented, including Gaevert Agfa, Lever Faberge, Arla Foods, Carlsberg.
Recent years have seen the growth of media and communications. The Yorkshire Post, Orange and BBC Northern media call the city their home as do numerous advertising agencies.
£ 3.8 billion was invested in the development of business and commercial property in Leeds over the last 10 years. EUR 7 billion of projects are also lined up for future development to find suitable premises is relatively simple. One example is the Leeds Valley Business Park is located southeast of the city with direct access to the M1 and M621 motorways. office blocks have an area of 7500 to 127,000 sqm and the park is designed to create 27,000 jobs over the next 15 years.
Communication links are excellent. London is only 2 hours by train from Leeds Bradford airport provides European destinations and connections easy and convenient.
Leeds Enterprise is an organization that was created to provide a focal point for businesses seeking to expand or locate in the region. It is an amalgam of the local Chamber of Commerce, the Council's work and the organization of firms and a number of other partner organizations. Locateinleeds.co.uk also provides a useful 44 page booklet can be downloaded. This contains key information about Leeds and its environs, communication and transportation information and economic data. It also gives an overview of the available labor, health and education services and the abundance of local leisure facilities.
