Chelmsford Borough Council - Financial and Professional Services, Advanced Engineering, Close to London
Key Competitive Attractions
- Including Financial and Professional Services, and Advanced Engineering Clusters Close to London
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex and is a key administrative, health, and cultural centre in the heart of the county. It has an expanding University (Anglia Ruskin) and regional health and leisure facilities, as well as strengths in financial and professional services, and advanced engineering.
Chelmsford occupies a location close to London - just 35 minutes from central London by train and 38 miles by road. The M25 is only 18 miles away using the A12 and Stansted airport is just 24 miles distant. Harwich International and Felixstowe Container ports can be reached by road in an hour. Source: National Rail Enquiries/RAC
Chelmsford and South Woodham Ferrers are home to over 6,000 businesses, supporting 75,000 jobs with a potential to support 100,000. Commercial accommodation costs are competitive, and the local labour market is highly skilled.
Chelmsford has a strong business environment, with many regional professional firms, such as solicitors, banks and accountants based in the town and a wide range of business support organisations and networks operating within the borough.
Assistance and Support For New Business Investors
The Council's Inward Investment, Economy & Growth Team is dedicated to providing a range of services to encourage new commercial investment within the area.
The following inward investment services are available, free of charge, via the Team:
- Information services - detailed local information tailored to your specific requirements, including local demographics, planning guidance, economic data and advice on available commercial development opportunities.
- Commercial sites and premises searches - whatever your requirements, the Team has detailed knowledge of available opportunities within the local area and can provide a full sites and premises location service.
- One to one meetings - if you need to find out more about Chelmsford and what it has to offer, and be shown first-hand, the Team will be happy to meet with you and talk your ideas through.
- Pointing you in the right direction - the Team has excellent contacts with the local business and commercial development network, so if you need the support of others we can put you in touch with the people that can help.
- Inward investment events - the Team organises inward investment events to highlight the commercial development opportunities in the area, details of which will be added to the website (www.chelmsford.gov.uk/business).
We work in close partnership with other inward investment agencies and bodies, including Invest Essex, the inward investment agency for Essex (www.investessex.co.uk).
Existing Business Base
Chelmsford has a population of 164,500, which is forecast to grow to 170,000 by 2021. Over 3,000 new homes have been built since 2001 (total now: 66,000). The town has a retail catchment of over 350,000 people, and 20% of the UK population live within around 1 hour`s drive.
Chelmsford is a key centre for finance, insurance, health, advanced manufacturing and electronic engineering. Local businesses include Coutts & Co, Clydesdale Bank, Handelsbanken, M&G Investments, QBE Insurance, Amlin, Royal and Sun Alliance, Britvic, e2v Technologies, BAE Systems, ebm-papst UK and Visteon Corporation.
