There are many compelling reasons why Essex is home to world leading companies, international businesses, leading research centres and entrepreneurial start-ups. With over 50,000 businesses employing more than 620,000 people, Essex provides a vast range of job opportunities and is a major economic driver in the east of England. Its location at the heart of a national logistics network offers excellent links by road, air and sea to the whole of the UK, Europe and beyond, and its proximity to other vibrant economies means that Essex is superbly positioned for business.
Its dynamic business environment, rich history of innovation and entrepreneurship, and expertise across varied sectors has led to it becoming the chosen home of many of the world’s leading companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, Alphasense, Britvic, Konica Minolta, Ford, BAE Systems, e2v technologies and Olympus KeyMed.
The region’s entrepreneurial spirit also means that the county generates a higher than average number of start-up businesses, a high concentration of research and development-intensive companies, low unemployment and a skilled workforce. Essex schools rank among the top in the UK and its universities are at the forefront of cutting-edge research, knowledge transfer and industrial partnerships, further reinforcing Essex’s business strength.
The University of Essex is the topranked UK university for social sciences research with a five-star rating, while Anglia Ruskin University is home to the Ashcroft International Business School, which carries out extensive research and consultancy. What’s more, Chelmsford has two schools that rank in the nation’s top 10 and Southend hosts four of the top 10 schools in Essex for GCSE attainment. Essex is also home to specialist schools focusing on business such as Greensward College, which offers students a wide range of entrepreneurial vocational courses for those wishing to set up in business.
Location is another great strength. Essex boasts a unique location in the UK being so close to London and Cambridge and served by some of the country’s top passenger and freight services. Its excellent logistics network includes major connections to the national motorway network; the UK’s single most important cluster of international deepsea container ports at Harwich, nearby Felixstowe in Suffolk, Tilbury, and the new massive London Gateway Port (which opens this year); and Stansted Airport, one of Europe’s fastest growing international airports delivering passenger and freight to 160 destinations. Together, these make it easy to do business anywhere in the UK and the world.
Regeneration drive
The county’s growth is backed by government investment which is creating new markets and business opportunities, and attracting even more skilled people to the county. Essex stands to benefit from major involvement in Europe’s largest regeneration project, the Thames Gateway, with over £2.5 billion of new private and public sector investment secured for Thames Gateway South Essex since 2001. Work has started on the new £1.5 billion port and business park at London Gateway and other significant investment opportunities are resulting from the 2012 Games, and from major developments in the Haven Gateway to the east of the county. The Government has set high growth targets across the county, with a target of 131,000 new jobs by 2021 - more than a quarter of the total target for the east of England.
Home comforts
Essex is a beautiful rural county with a stunning coastline; the longest of any English county. It also has a rich history providing it with a host of tourist destinations and attractions. Whether you enjoy rural cycle routes, castles and stately houses, restaurants and shopping, market towns full of character or beautiful coastal beaches, Essex offers it all. Essex is a vibrant county with an established and booming business environment, a rich quality of life and an unsurpassed location. The scale of regeneration for Essex represents massive opportunities to business, making it a lively and exciting place to live and work.
For more information visit www.investessex.co.uk
