Business facts
Wales has a work force of over 1.3 million talented people, many of them graduates from the country’s 13 universities or colleges, or one of its 25 further education institutions.
The Welsh government is modern, flexible and completely aligned with real business needs, making direct access as easy as possible. Delivery of Amazon’s 244,000m² fulfilment centre, creating over 1,200 jobs, took just 16 months from initial approaches between Amazon and the Welsh Assembly Government to the opening of the mega-facility.
Map of Wales
Find out about transport links throughout Wales and where it lies in relation to the rest of the UK in this downloadable map.
Technium, a network of state-of-the-art facilities across Wales served by the latest information technology and fibre optic bandwidth capabilities, offers the optimum environment to enable knowledge-based start-up and spin-out companies to realise their potential.
Wales is developing a telecommunications network that is already one of the most advanced in the world. BT’s new IP-based twenty-first century network of services is being rolled out in Wales before other parts of the UK, so businesses here will have access to the latest data and voice communications capabilities.
Motorway and rail links mean South Wales is only two hours drive from London and Heathrow. This strategic location is underpinned by the presence of advance freight handling facilities for road, rail air and sea.
Wales has a strong commercial property sector – up to a third of the cost of London property – and offers a number of flexible, scalable facilities to provide a UK touchdown for new and incoming companies.
Financial grants and other assistance are available to eligible new businesses through a number of bodies including the National Assembly for Wales, International Business Wales and the European Commission.
An impressive 60 per cent of companies locating in Wales reinvest in their operations there.
Lifestyle facts
Wales is a country of contrasts – from dramatic, sweeping coastlines to green, rolling hills, from small intimate villages to bustling modern towns.
Living and working in Wales makes a healthy work/life balance achievable. Wherever you are based, you are never more than a short journey away from spectacular national parks or magnificent coastlines. Between them, these areas offer some of the most varied and wildly beautiful scenery in Europe. Almost 25 per cent of Wales is designated as either a national park or an ‘area of outstanding natural beauty’.
These landscapes are not only great to gaze at – although you’re very welcome to do just that if you wish – they’re also the perfect backdrop for walking, hiking, climbing, biking, swimming, surfing, fishing, riding or sailing.
Wales is also great for golfers with some 189 courses to try out. You could even beat Tiger Woods to it by playing 18 holes at the Celtic Manor Resort, near Newport, which is home of the Ryder Cup 2010.
Cosmopolitan cities and traditional Welsh towns offer a wide range of shopping facilities – from international department stores to Victorian and Edwardian arcades lined with a rich variety of speciality shops.
Wales also offers top spas and a wide choice of hotels and restaurants – from intimate family-run establishments to five-star, country houses.
Key business sectors
Find out more about individual business sectors in Wales on the International Business Wales website:
Thinking about bringing your business to Wales, want to find out more?
If you want more detailed information on companies that have established and grown their businesses in Wales, the regional development agency, International Business Wales (IBW), has a selection of case studies on its website.
For more information or to arrange a meeting with IBW contact:
Tel: 0845 010 3300 within the UK or +44 (0)1443 845500 from overseas locations
Email: ibw@wales.gsi.gov.uk
For more information visit the International Business Wales website
Printable Version
Email this page