Labour and Skills

Commercial success relies upon finding the right employees. Fortunately, the Northwest contains the largest population outside of London and the South East - almost seven million people live in the region (of which, around five million are along the M62 corridor linking Liverpool and Manchester). In fact, the region's population is forecast to grow by up to 4% to 2011. That means a reliable and sustainable labour supply available to new businesses.

Of course, quality is as important as quantity. The Northwest's renowned universities produce over 50,000 graduates in a range of disciplines every year. Over two thirds of these talented people remain here after graduation. In addition, the proportion of the working age population with relevant qualifications continues to rise throughout the region.

With such a depth of resources, labour and social costs in the Northwest remain extremely competitive. They are generally significantly below those in London and the Southeast which is good news for any business that is looking for a new location to set up.

The high quality of life combined with relatively modest living costs is the key factor which ensures that labour and skills in the Northwest remain both plentiful and affordable.