Why West Yorkshire?
As the largest contributor to the UK economy in the Northern Powerhouse and the largest regional economy outside London, there’s a reason businesses choose West Yorkshire as a location to invest and grow.
About West Yorkshire
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A skilled workforce of 1.1 million people
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Largest number of universities outside of London
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33,000 skilled graduates per year
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£58 bn regional economy
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More scale-ups than any other area outside London
Skilled workforce
West Yorkshire offers businesses access to a highly-skilled workforce of 1.1 million people. It is home to the UK’s leading professional services hub outside of London, and is a global leader in key sectors such as technology, healthcare and manufacturing, as well as hosting the largest cluster of higher education institutions outside the capital, with seven universities producing world-leading research and 33,000 skilled graduates each year.
It also has a fast-growing young population, with more people aged under 20 than any other area of the North.
Big contributor
With more than 95,000 businesses and a GVA of over £57 billion, West Yorkshire is the largest contributor to UK GDP in the Northern Powerhouse and the largest regional economy outside London. In fact, the West Yorkshire economy alone is larger than many European countries.
Attractive proposition
West Yorkshire remains one of the leading locations in the UK for foreign and direct investment, according to the Ernst & Young annual Attractiveness Survey, with significant interest in the digital and business services sectors.
