Welcome to England's Northwest, Europe's leading location for expanding businesses.

With a thriving £111 billion economy, the 12th largest in Europe, a population of nearly seven million people and 230,000 successful businesses, England's Northwest operates on a truly international scale.

The region is home to some of the world's most recognised brands and is home to more AIM-registered PLCs than anywhere else in the UK outside London.

It boasts Manchester, voted Britain's Best City for Business 2007 behind London; Liverpool, one of Europe's fastest-growing economies and European Capital of Culture 2008; Cheshire, home to AstraZeneca's largest global R&D centre; Lancashire, a world leader in advanced manufacturing and engineering; and Cumbria, at the international cutting-edge of nucelar technology.

With airports serving over 270 destinations worldwide, fast rail links across the UK, extensive motorway networks and a peerless technological infrastructure, it's easy to see why England's Northwest is the compelling choice for international business investment.