From its historical status as world leader in shipping and engineering, Bristol is once again proving to be the business hub of the South West of England.
In the past, Bristol has been renowned the world over for its shipping industry, and both as a transport and merchant hub that connected England to the rest of the world, making the country a fundamental player in the global economy.
The city is also known for its engineering pedigree, as it’s one of the spiritual homes of the illustrious Isambard Kingdom Brunel, to which his design of the SS Great Britain and the Clifton Suspension Bridge have become landmarks of the city.
Bristol is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city which, according to the UK Competitiveness Index for 2010, has the most cost-efficient and productive economy of any large English city outside of London. The re-generation of the waterfront area and the city centre hark back to its nautical past, which to this day is still important as Bristol is a major importer of goods including cars and wine.
Engineering and manufacturing also still remain at the forefront of the economy of Bristol. The city is the home to and has received big investment from the Aero-Engine manufacturing and aircraft production industry.
However, Bristol’s economy is a varied one, and it is making itself known for its excellence in knowledge-intensive and creative industries, media, information technology and financial services.
pictured: Regus Bristol Temple Quay
More importantly for businesses, Bristol City Council is about to embark in a major re-development project in the Temple Quarter area. The initiative is set to establish an official enterprise area in a bid to attract inward investment and boost the local economy. The local authority hopes attract 250 businesses which will lead to the creation of around 17,000 jobs.
Bristol is not only a great place to set up a business, but it proves to be a rather attractive city to live in. The Broadmead shopping area and the £500m Cabot Circus retail centre should satisfy any possible shopping need. Not only has the city received investment to support businesses but it also proves a cultural hotspot. The restored waterfront and dockside area has made Bristol a leisure hotspot
So what are you waiting for, why not start your Bristol adventure now! Regus has business centres in the Broad Quay, Temple Quay and Aztec West areas.
Trivia:
- Bristol is statistically one of the UK’s warmest and sunniest cities
- The city boasts a GDP that is 40% higher then the national average
- The city is home to the BBC Natural History Unit, and production house of Wallace and Gromit
- Bristol is considered a ‘musical city’ as it has produced a repertoire of bands, and has a large number of popular musicians considering its population size
- It has good road and rail links with London, Birmingham and Plymouth, plus a busy international airport
- The world renowned controversial graffiti artist Banksy is from Bristol
Do you have a business in Bristol or are you simply interested in starting a business in the city? Let us know in the comments section below
For more information on:
- Regus click here
- Business locations in Bristol click here
- Bristol City Council click here
- Invest in Bristol initiative click here
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