A look at the projected growth of the regions with links to key investment opportunities and data for the main cities.
Midlands
Manufacturing is the heart and soul of the Midlands, accounting for 17% of the GVA in the East Midlands and 15% in the West Midlands, according to KPMG.
Rolls-Royce in Derby, Siemens in Lincoln and Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull are among the biggest players in the region and represent the Midlands’ contribution to both the UK and the rest of the world.
Warwick University has also spurred the tech market in Warwickshire, making it the most active start-up location outside London.
But areas outside major cities such as Birmingham are still rural and heavily reliant on the service sector.
Between the West Midlands Combined Authority’s £8bn budget and continued progress on HS2, the region is set for even more growth in the coming year.
READ MORE: An investment guide to Birmingham
West Midlands: Projected growth 2017-2027
14.8%
total GVA
11.2%
GVA per employee
3.3%
employment
Source: Cebr/Irwin Mitchell
East Midlands: Projected growth 2017-2027
16.9%
total GVA
13%
GVA per employee
3.5%
employment
Source: Cebr/Irwin Mitchell
READ MORE: An investment guide to Nottingham
East of England
The East of England is the research and development capital of the UK, thanks to Cambridge and its innovation in the sciences (see Clusters feature).
Bolstered by the city’s growth prospects and its connection to London, the East of England is projected to have the highest level of GVA growth in the UK over the next decade at 22.7%.
The region’s other major population centres include Peterborough, Ipswich and Norwich, which is carving out a niche in nutrition, green tech and fintech .
KPMG’s Improving UK Regional Productivity Performance report shows that the East of England has consistently above-average productivity in nearly every sector in its economy.
East of England: Projected growth 2017-2027
22.7%
total GVA
16.6%
GVA per employee
5.2%
employment
