KEY INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY
Birmingham City Centre Enterprise Zone is the largest city centre enterprise zone in the UK, comprising 26 sites focused on economic sectors that are already clustered in the city centre and reflect growth opportunities. Over its lifetime the zone aims to secure 1.3m2 of new floorspace, of which 700,000m2 is for business and financial services, digital media, ICT and creative industries. It also aims to create 40,000 jobs and contribute £2.8bn to the economy in GVA each year.
INVESTOR INTEREST
Birmingham has been the target of some high-profile business relocations in recent years, including Deutsche Bank and HSBC. PGC Capital is investing around £100m in the city.
CONNECTIVITY
143 direct routes from Birmingham Airport every day. The HS2 rail link will reduce the journey time to London from one hour 15 minutes to 40 minutes.
WHO TO KNOW
John Clancy, leader of Birmingham City Council, and Waheed Nazir (left), the council’s director of planning and regeneration. Will elect a metro mayor in May 2017.
IN THE KNOW
The UK’s second-largest city, it has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any English city outside London.
