Great locations for budding entrepreneur expansions

Getting off the ground with a new company is both exciting and satisfying. most entrepreneurs will find their place in the market by virtue of their passion and commitment, plus their business acumen, no matter what sort of industry or employment sector they happen to inhabit. Successful start-up businesses, however, often reach the point where expansion is necessary, and this is when a number of important factors need to be taken into account, in order to ensure controlled, smooth growth.

Birmingham – most entrepreneurial UK city
A major city can offer major opportunities when it comes to finding an ideal location for an expanding company. Already established and regarded as an important international centre of commerce, Birmingham is fast gaining a reputation for taking an entrepreneurial approach to its own growth, having launched the Big City Plan in 2010 with a view to providing wonderful city centre spaces in which people will want to live as well as work. There are great transport links here via road, rail and air and Birmingham’s diverse range of local industries includes aerospace manufacturing, retail, conferences and events, public administration, education and health.

Leeds – economic engine of West Yorkshire
A centre for commerce, higher education and culture, Leeds is at the heart of the West Yorkshire urban area and at the centre of the Leeds-Bradford metropolitan area – the fourth largest in Britain. Outside London, Leeds is the largest centre for legal, financial and business services, and has an office market that is considered the best in Europe in terms of value. With a diverse economy, most employment here is within the service sector rather than manufacturing and finance. Insurance and banking are key development areas. A growing number of supplementary activities include call centres, retail and media and last year Leeds was nominated as one of the top five ‘Cities to Watch’ by the Centre for Cities.

Reading – focus of the Thames Valley
The chosen centre for many businesses involved in information technology and insurance, Reading benefits from being the headquarters of several major UK companies. It is an important location for retail and many multinationals from all over the world have their offices here. Whilst the town centre is the hub of top-class retail outlets, business park offices in Reading host commercial giants such as KPMG and PepsiCo, as well as a wide range of middle and small-scale companies keen to take advantage of competitive rents for top-class premises in attractive surroundings. Reading is close to London, which is always an incentive to members of staff. It has lots of parks and playgrounds and hosts a number of important annual cultural events, including festivals and carnivals, making it a great place for employees with families.

Expanding businesses often choose locations in which they will become part of a cluster of similar companies; this has proved to assist with specialist recruitment and broadens customer choice. Most UK cities will have a mix of smaller and larger enterprises, so the smart entrepreneur will choose the mix that best suits their expansion plans.

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