Business Facts

• The Northwest economy is worth £106 billion, bigger than 14 EU countries, and is home to the internationally renowned cities of Manchester and Liverpool (Manchester 2nd behind London in 2007 UK Cities Monitor of best UK city to run a business, Liverpool 9th).

• Europe’s largest concentration of universities can be found in the region with over 50,000 graduates per year. These include The University of Manchester, Europe’s largest single site university. The region also has over 50 Research Institutes, many multi-institutional.

• The region is home to a wealth of world-leading businesses including Bentley Motors, Jaguar/Land Rover, Fuji Film, BAE Systems and Unilever. AstraZeneca’s largest global R&D facility is located at Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

• Over 230 biomedical companies in the region employ over 25,000 professionals in this major growth sector. This includes 6 multinational companies - AstraZeneca, Novartis, Medimmune, Eli Lilly, Sanofi Aventis and Bristol Myers Squibb. The region is also the UK’s largest exporter of phamraceuticals as well as being home to the National Biomanufacturing Centre (NBC), Europe's leading biopharmaceutical design centre in Speke, Liverpool.

• The region is home to the largest media hub outside of London. Over 31,000 digital and creative businesses employ some 321,000 individuals. mediacity:uk based at Salford Quays in Manchester will be the UK’s first purpose built media city and be home to 5 BBC departments. Once complete, mediacity:uk will provide space for 1,150 media, creative and related businesses.

• The Northwest is the largest single centre of aerospace manufacturing and production in the UK and a leading centre of excellence in Europe and accounts for one third of UK aerospace output.

• The Northwest is one of the UK’s leading regions for financial and professional services and is home to more AIM-registered PLCs than anywhere else in the UK outside London. Over 80 banks have operations here (40 of which are overseas-owned) with recent investments including The Bank of New York, The State Bank of India and JPMorgan Invest.

• The region’s three international airports serve over 270 destinations worldwide. This includes Manchester International Airport, the largest UK airport outside of London, Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Blackpool Airport.

Lifestyle facts

• England’s Northwest boasts England’s largest National Park, three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and over 1000 kilometres of magnificent coastline.

• The region is one of the most artistic and culturally dynamic regions in Europe boasting an exciting array of original artists, vibrant venues, festivals and events. Internationally significant cultural events include Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008; Manchester International Festival, the world’s first international festival of original, new work; and Liverpool Biennial, the UK’s largest contemporary visual arts festival.

• The 2007 Turner Art Prize is taking place in Liverpool, the first time that this prestigious Prize has been held outside London. Liverpool is also home to the 2008 MTV Europe Awards.

• The region is also steeped in sporting heritage – as well as being home to two of the biggest and most glamorous football clubs in the world, it is also home to the greatest horse race on earth, the John Smiths Grand National.

• Some of the world’s most challenging and naturally beautiful golf courses can be found in the region with a variety of links courses, including three that regularly host the renowned Open Championship.

Want to find out more?

For more information about the region’s business credentials visit the England’s Northwest Investment website.