Locate in Leeds
Key Competitive Attractions
Leeds is one of the leading European business locations and the regional capital of Yorkshire and the Humber. Located at the centre of the UK, midway between London and Edinburgh, and Hull and Liverpool, it is ideally situated at the intersection of the national motorway and rail network. Trains to London run every half hour during the daytime, with a journey time of just over two hours.
Leeds is the second largest metropolitan district in England, with a population of 790,000, and is the driving force within the Leeds city region, which has a population of almost 3 million, a workforce of 1.5 million and a combined output of over £46 billion.
Leeds is the UK's largest centre for financial and business services outside London and the main centre for government within the region. Research by Cushman & Wakefield names Leeds as one of Europe's leading business locations and identifies the city's office market as best in Europe, in terms of value for money. The city is also among the UK's top five retail destinations.
One key advantage of a Leeds location is the availability of a large workforce with the skills to meet the demand of a diverse and growing economy. The Leeds city region is home to six universities, which produce 36,000 graduates annually.
Public sector investment totalling £3 billion has been earmarked for housing, education, healthcare, transport and regeneration schemes, to ensure Leeds has the infrastructure in place to sustain current and projected levels of economic development.
Assistance and Support For New Business Investors
Leeds City Council`s business and enterprise team provides a range of free services to assist companies and organisations looking to relocate or expand their operations to the city.
A database of available commercial property is maintained to assist companies looking for new premises in Leeds. Individually tailored searches can be carried out by the council`s business and enterprise team. Companies can also carry out their own searches online on the Locate in Leeds website.
Detailed information on the Leeds economy, labour and property markets can be provided to assist companies with their feasibility studies for expansion or relocation.
Tours of the city can be arranged at all stages of the decision making process. In addition to sites and premises, tours can be expanded to cover housing, leisure and shopping facilities. Presentations and tours can be arranged for key staff and their families, delivered direct or through the client`s relocation consultants.
Leeds City Council works proactively with other local authorities, education and training providers and employment organisations to tailor packages to support inward investors looking to create a large number of jobs in Leeds or the wider city region.
Leeds City Council works closely with Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and other business support organisations and can assist in accessing Leeds` extensive network of business and sector support organisations.
Support is also available for Leeds-based companies looking to expand and start-up companies seeking their first premises.
Existing Business Base
Leeds is one of the UK’s most successful cities and has the second largest employment total outside London. Leeds also has one of the most diverse economies of all the UK’s main employment centres. The city is a major centre for financial and business services, manufacturing, education and healthcare. An estimated 427,800 people are employed in the local economy and 84% of employees in Leeds work in the service sector.
Leeds is recognised as the UK's largest centre for financial and business services outside London. It is also one of the largest centres for the media and communications industry and is the UK’s third largest manufacturing centre.
The city is a major employment provider for the region as a whole, with over 100,000 people commuting to work in Leeds from outside the district every day. Major private sector employers based in Leeds include First Direct, Asda Walmart, Ventura, Centrica, BT, Direct Line and O2.
The city is expected to generate 30% of the region’s employment growth over the next decade. The value of Leeds’ economy is estimated at £14.4 billion (2010) and is projected to grow by over a quarter in the next ten years.
Leeds has attracted £4.3 billion of investment in large property developments in the last ten years and a further £6.5 billion of investment is under construction or in the development pipeline.
