Liverpool

Liverpool is one of the most exciting and thriving economic regions in the UK. It has the fastest growing regional economy and is home to global companies such as Jaguar/Land Rover, JP Morgan, Novartis, Prinovis, Coutts, IBM, Littlewoods and Royal & SunAlliance.

The city is home to a diverse business base, making it an ideal ivestment location. It has commercial strengths across a wide range of sectors, including business and financial services, creative and digital industries and automotive.

Liverpool is also a national centre of excellence for life sciences and a European centre of biotechnological expertise. More than 80 biotech companies are based here, employing over 4,000 people and generating annual turnover of around £250million.

In fact, there are more people employed in producing pharmaceuticals in South Liverpool than in any other European city. Major companies include the manufacturing operations of Novartis, Lilly and Medimmune. Liverpool is also home to the new £30million National Biomanufacturing Centre (NBC).

The innovation continues at Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, a cutting-edge research and development location. Its world-class facilities include the new Cockroft Institute, which will place the UK at the forefront of international research into particle physics. In addition, Europe's most powerful academic research computer and the world's mightiest microscope are both used here.

Liverpool is one of the best connected locations in the UK. An excellent transport infrastructure provides access to all UK, European and international markets. Liverpool John Lennon Airport connects to more than 70 destinations, including a daily service to New York. There are regular, direct rail services to London and other major conurbations, while two thirds of the UK's population live within a 2 hour drive. With three universities and a student population of over 50,000, Liverpool also offers investors a large, well-educated labour force.

Of course, Liverpool is also a world-famous port city. As European Capital of Culture 2008, it is successfully establishing itself as a thoroughly modern international city. Over £4-5 billion of major developments are planned over the next five years. These include the largest city centre retail regeneration project in Europe, confirmation that this dynamic region is proactively building a brighter future.