Castle Wharf
Economic growth over the last 5 years has been above the national average and with fast developing sectors this is likely to continue. There are five key sectors in the city:
Business and professional services in Nottingham has twice the national rate of jobs growth for the sector over the last five years. A number of national and international companies have chosen to locate their national or regional headquarters in Nottingham. Information solutions and credit referencing specialist Experian and credit card company Capital One are the area’s largest employers in this sector. Both of Nottingham’s universities have two of the best law and business schools in the UK.
Retail and leisure accounts for almost 60,000 jobs in Nottingham. The city is the home of international fashion designer Paul Smith, who recently opened a second shop in the city. There were 12.5 million visitors to the city in 2005, largely drawn by excellent shopping, eating and leisure opportunities. As well as great shops and restaurants there are excellent sporting facilities, including the national centres for water sports and ice sport, the international cricket ground at Trent Bridge and two of the oldest football teams in the world: Nottingham Forest and Notts County.
Bio City Nottingham
Science and technology: designated a ‘Science City’ by the UK government, Nottingham’s status recognises the huge strengths that the city has in terms of high technology and innovating companies. The city is home to the famous Boots pharmaceuticals company and of BioCity, a fast-growing healthcare and bioscience innovation centre. The two universities have excellent reputations for research and a new science park is currently being built. There is also the Queen’s Medical Centre, one of the top teaching hospitals in the UK.
Public services in the city include the national bases for the UK government’s Revenue and Customs, the Driving Standards Agency, and regional Government Offices including East Midlands Development Agency and UK Trade and Investment. With over 90,000 people employed within the sector and accounts for almost 1/3 of all jobs in the city. The universities also play a key role within the sector with specialist research centres in public services.
Creative industries are growing fast with over 9000 people employed within the sector. Nottingham is also home to the UK’s first computer games cultural festival ‘GameCity’ founded in 2006. The new Centre for Contemporary Arts Nottingham is due to open in 2008, which will provide one of the UK’s leading art galleries. Broadway Media Centre is the leading regional independent film and digital arts centre. Nottingham Trent University has particular strengths in the creative sector and whose previous student include Turner Prize winners, British Fashion Council Award winners and winners of many other national awards.
For more information on our key sectors please visit www.visionnottingham.com