More about Nottingham
Top location, according to UK business leaders
During research for its Trading Places report on globalisation, Deloitte surveyed 300 business leaders across the UK. Each person was asked to rate their region in terms of skills, transport, cost of living, office space, business networks, public support, quality of life, local markets, inward investment and innovation. The findings were then used to produce a rank for each region within each factor.
The East Midlands was the outright number one in the areas of transport, business networks, public support and local markets. Taking all categories into account, the East Midlands sits right at the top of the table, well ahead of traditionally successful areas such as London and the West Midlands. The region was also in the top five for cost of living, skills and office space, innovation and inward investment.
A skilled and employable workforce
East Midlands' graduates have developed a reputation for being highly skilled and highly employable and - and a rate of 93% - it has more working graduates than any other region in the UK. One of the secrets to their success is their relevant, desirable skills. The East Midlands has more technology and engineering students than any other region - 8.4% compared to 6.5% nationally - a fact that continues to attract renewed investment from companies such as Toyota, Rolls Royce and 3M, which are all based here.
The readily available and educated workforce, combined with the quality of life, affordability and convenient location of the region, has also attracted big financial businesses to the area such as Capital One and Experian.
Students believe their experiences in the East Midlands have a positive effect on their career prospects. The majority choose to stay here after they graduate due to the job opportunities, social life and salary levels on offer - guaranteeing an excellent talent resource for companies looking to relocate to the area.
A centre for "foodies"
The East Midlands is the top UK region for international cuisine. Nottingham was named UK's culinary capital in the Frequency of Overseas Dishes (Food) study, conducted by MSN Local Search. The study found in every square mile of the city there was an average of six Indian, Thai, Italian and Chinese restaurants, fish and chip shops and kebab houses.
About Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands, which borders South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire. The districts of Nottinghamshire are Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Broxtowe, Gedling, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, and Rushcliffe. In 2006 the county was estimated to have a population of just over one million. Over half of the population of the county lives in the conurbation of Greater Nottingham. The conurbation has a population of about 650,000, though less than half live within the city boundaries.
A thriving environment
Nottingham is being shaped and extended into an outstanding environment in which to live and work with high quality apartments and multi-purpose developments providing business premises, retail outlets and entertainment. The city centre has a comprehensive selection of business service industries, from banking and finance to marketing and communication, and is an ideal location for company head quarters. An advanced public transport scheme, The Big Wheel, is currently being established to provide efficient transport throughout the city incorporating car, rail, bus and a new £200m tram network.
Traditionally Nottinghamshire has been strongly associated with the textiles industry, in particular Nottingham’s famous lace. Now the Lace Market warehouses and factories have been converted into offices and apartments and the textile industry has transformed too. By responding to change Nottingham has retained its position in this sector by developing specialist capabilities. The former coal mining areas in the North are being regenerated into high quality business premises for new industry clusters such as ICT and the creative industries, encouraging new sectors to the county. Nottinghamshire’s other traditional industries, food and drink and engineering, remain strong in the county, supported by its outstanding University departments.
For more information about Nottingham, visit:
- Nottingham County Council www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2404
- Nottingham Insight http://www.nottinghaminsight.org.uk/