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 is one of six major cities with more than 30,000 in employment in financial and related professional services, as well as being home to over 30 national and international banks. In 2023, the Leeds legal sector increased by 19% to £1.3bn.
In fact, Leeds is expected to see its economy grow quicker than the rest of Yorkshire and the Humber over 2024-2026, according to EY’s latest Regional Economic Forecast.
Yorkshire’s digital industry is also second to none. Previously 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 England 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 11 universities and 34 further education colleges, with Leeds alone offering access to the support and expertise of seven universities. 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.
Jeroen Temmerman, chief executive officer of ghd, agrees: “Having been founded and based in Leeds for more than 20 years, we’re passionate about Yorkshire and all that it offers. With excellent transport links across the UK, our teams based in Leeds are well connected to travel to our other offices in London and Cambridge.”
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.
