Yorkshire is well regarded as one of the most beautiful places in the UK, offering everything from stunning cityscapes to bountiful rolling hills.
But perhaps what’s less well-known, is its role as an economic powerhouse and the perfect location for businesses of all shapes and sizes. But what makes God’s Own Country such a special business base?
This Yorkshire Day (1st Aug), we reveal why…
We’re industry leaders
Yorkshire has always been a centre for industry and in recent years has evolved to become a hotbed for many major sectors. It’s no surprise that some of the UK’s biggest names in business including ASDA, Lloyds Banking Group, GHD and Channel 4 are based here.
Leeds City Region has established itself as the UK’s leading centre for financial, legal and professional services, is home to over 30 national and international banks and is the UK’s fastest-growing legal sector.
Yorkshire’s digital industry is also second to none. Noted as the fastest growing in the UK, tech businesses basing themselves here know they’ll be in good company alongside the likes of NHS Digital and Sky Betting and Gaming. Leeds also hosts one of the largest digital events in the UK, its annual Leeds Digital Festival.
We have plenty of talent
Yorkshire has 12 universities and 34 further education colleges, with Leeds alone offering 39,000 skilled graduates a year. It’s safe to say there is an abundance of talent to choose from in the region!
And as more graduates realise they don’t need to move to London to grow their careers, the region’s appeal to high-skilled workers is ever growing. This has led to Leeds being ranked in the top five cities for retaining students after graduation. Key reasons why include the attraction of the region’s sector strengths alongside the ease and availability of renting accommodation compared to their Southern counterparts.
The region’s strength in attracting and retaining talent is something many businesses reap the benefits for, including Buro Happold. Associate Sam Hudson, says: “With access to a diverse and bright talent pool on our doorstep, technical innovation and growth of our specialist services have been pioneered here since our office opened, and the strength of Yorkshire as a business location means we continue to attract top local and international talent.”
We’re well-connected
There’s nothing worse than having to worry about how to get to business meetings quickly, and easily. If you’re a business in Yorkshire, this is one less thing to stress about! We’re not only home to connected cities like Leeds and York, but we have multiple transport links that make the rest of the UK easily accessible.
Executive Director at Brown Shipley, Phil Harris, agrees: “With great links south to London and north to Edinburgh, Yorkshire is the beating heart of business in the UK, which is why we’ve maintained an office here for 160 years and counting!”
As a region, we’re also extremely encouraging and supportive of sustainable travel options, from walking to cycling. Wellington Place for instance offers its occupiers free bike hire to travel to and from the office and across the city.
We’re a friendly bunch
Yorkshire’s cities and towns are regularly topping the charts as some of the friendliest places to live in the UK. The same can be said when doing business. To put it simply – Yorkshire puts people first.
Burendo has experienced this first-hand, with its Co-Founder Glen Crossley commenting that the company has “received such amazing support from the Yorkshire ecosystem”, which has helped them grow to a 170-strong company. This includes the support of developments like Wellington Place, which puts strong emphasis on creating communities in which businesses can thrive.
We support work-life balance
Yorkshire is a fantastic location for businesses to collaborate and grow, but equally important for employers and employees alike is having a great work-life balance. Yorkshire certainly ticks this box, with cities across the region ranked above UK average for work-life balance according to PwC’s Good Growth for Cities Index.
There are plenty of benefits beyond the office in Yorkshire, which David Slater, Group Financial Controller at Mackenzie Stuart, explains: “As a business in Yorkshire, we feel we’re at the centre of everything needed for our staff to mix work and pleasure. From brilliant bars and restaurants; quality shopping outlets; fun team building options like social darts and escape rooms, and you’re close to thriving cities but also glorious countryside, there’s really something for everyone to recharge.”
And that’s just five reasons why Yorkshire is a top business destination for any business! The list goes on and on… But for now, find out more about working at Wellington Place here.
