Expert Office Advice

Stats and information for businesses considering relocation to or setting up an office in Liverpool.

Liverpool, considered to be the 6th largest city in the United Kingdom in terms of population, is a metropolitan borough in North West England.

The city’s inhabitants are called Liverpudlians and nicknamed “Scousers”, which is derived from a popular local form of stew - scouse.

Population
439,476 (Census 2001)

Migration, immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• Majority of the population fall under the 30-44 age bracket (21.7%).
• Ethinicity: 94.3% White, 1.1% S. Asian, 1.2% Afro-Caribbean, 1.2% Chinese
• 13.2% of the entire population are migrants.

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Vital stats and business information for companies considering relocation to or setting up an office in Hemel Hempstead.

Hemel Hempstead is a “new town” in the Borough of Dacorum in the County of Hertfordshire. It is situated in a shallow chalkland valley at the confluence of the Rivers Gade and Bolbourne. Hemel Hempstead is famous for its “Magic Roundabout” which allows traffic to go the roundabout way in both directions. This market town developed around a charming quaint town that still exists today.

Hemel Hempstead boasts of some of Hertfordshire’s largest industrial and business areas. Hundreds of big companies including some of their European headquarters are based in Hemel Hempstead. At the other end of the spectrum, small businesses and entrepreneurship abound.

Population
82,704 – derived from National Census 2001
Source: Office for National Statistics

Migration, immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• 90.8%of the population is white British, 3.5% is white non-British and 5.7% is non white
• 89.57% is born in England

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Stats and information for businesses considering relocation to or setting up an office in Guildford.

Guildford, the county town of Surrey, covers about 104 square miles. Approximately 70% of Guildford lies within the “green belt” and much of its southern part is in the Surrey Hills, an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This beautiful rural environment forms part of the distinctive character of Guildford.

Guildford is the regional administrative centre for the South East and a regional centre for business, education, shopping, culture and leisure. This combination makes Guildford a vibrant place to live, work or visit.

Population
132,200 – mid-year estimate for 2005 from the Office for National Statistics

Migration. immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• 89.3% of the population was born in the UK, 7.0% was born outside of EU and 3.7% was born elsewhere in EU.
• 95.9% is white.

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Vital stats and business information for companies considering relocation to or setting up an office in Gloucester.

Gloucester is a vibrant city which has great potential as a centre for any business. With its strategic location at the heart of Gloucestershire (The Golden County), a rich historic past and a thriving local economy, Gloucester is well on its way to unprecedented prosperity.

There is growing interest in Gloucester. New business start-ups and relocations have been on the rise. The number of people shopping in the city is increasing every year. It is stronger than in most of the rest of the country. This positive trend reflects the strong confidence that exists in Gloucester’s business community.

Population
111,306 – Official mid-year estimates 2005
Source: Office of the National Statistics

Migration, immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• 92.5% of the population is white British and white non-British.
• Majority of the population fall under the 30-44 age brackets.

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Quite often you hear news stories which divulge details about the latest new company to hit our shores, but why in our current economic climate are overseas companies opening branches in the UK? This is indeed a very good question, because as we know, the pound is incredibly strong against almost every other major currency, so moving, setting up and staffing a UK venture can be very costly for the overseas investors. Yet still they come.

Taking a quick walk down any high street in a major city will help to explain. Using London as my example, a gentle stroll on a Saturday afternoon will yield a popular coffee shop on almost every corner; yes you guessed it - Starbucks. Starbucks hit our shores 9 years ago with its first shop in Kings Road, Chelsea, and in that time have grown from strength to strength, popularised by international television and sitcoms, the English people are no longer satisfied in the café anymore, instead we want elegance, we want choice and more importantly we want it now. Furnished better than many homes, it’s a place to meet, share and enjoy while taking in the atmosphere and of course, get a cup of gourmet coffee.

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Stats and information for businesses considering relocation to or setting up an office in Oxford.

Known as the “City of Dreaming Spires”, Oxford is home to the oldest University in England, Oxford University. It is the perfect mix of ancient and modern with a growing hi-tech community set amidst a beautiful historic place. The modern Oxford has plenty to offer not only to students but also to visitors and businesses alike.

Population
149,800 (2005 estimate)

Migration, immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• Oxford has a relatively young population (38.92% are aged under 25) compared to England (31.1%) due largely to the high number of full-time students living there.
• Ethnicity: White (87.11%), Mixed (2.42%), Asian or Asian British (4.82%), Black or Black British (2.51%), Chinese or Other (3.14%)
• Religion: Christian (60.41%), No religion (23.89%), Muslim (3.85%)
• The workforce is mostly full-time students (25.59%), works in Lower managerial and professional occupations (17.4%) or in Higher professional occupations (10.46%).

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Vital stats and business information for companies considering relocation to or setting up an office in Slough.

Slough, a unitary authority, is one of the most ethnically diverse towns in the UK. It is home to part of Thames Valley University. It is a popular residential option among people working in London due to its proximity as well as cheaper accommodations. One of Slough’s claims to fame is that it is the first town in the entire country to elect a black woman as mayor way back in 1984. Slough, being located in Thames Valley is also an important business centre.

Population
117,500 (ONS 2005 estimate)

Migration, immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• Ethnicity: White (79.97%), Mixed (3.45%), Asian or Asian British (11.57%), Black or Black British (5.01%), Chinese or Other (0%)
• Religion: Christian (63.12%), No religion (16.29%), Muslim (10.12%), Sikh (1.62%), Hindu (1.56%)
• 87.49% of the population in Slough were born in the United Kingdom, 1.69% elsewhere in EU and a pretty large percentage of 10.83% outside EU.

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If you work in an office, it is important to understand good office health practices. Many people don’t give much thought to office health, and they pay the price. Illness, injury, weight gain and stress can result from poor office health habits. The longer you go without attending to these issues, the worse they can become. This is why it’s so important to adopt healthy habits in the workplace. Most people work at least eight hours five days a week. This adds up, and the way you spend this time can really have an effect on your health. It doesn’t have to be a negative effect, however.

One aspect of good office health is ergonomics. Improper posture can lead to injuries like tendonitis, repetitive stress injury, carpal tunnel syndrome and back strain. First, make sure your computer screen is positioned at eye level. Your chair should support your lumbar region and allow you to sit up straight without slouching or bending. Your thighs and knees should be parallel to the floor with your feet positioned under the knees, flat on the floor. Your arms should also be parallel to the floor, with your fingers comfortably reaching the keyboard without reaching or straining. When you type, your wrists shouldn’t rest on the wristpad or keyboard but should hover in a straight line above the keyboard.

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Stats and information for businesses considering relocation to or setting up an office in Bradford.

Bradford is a Yorkshire city that is full of history. Its name was taken from what is essentially a broad ford located at Church Bank near the Bradford Cathedral. It was around this area that the first settlements were established before the Norman Conquest.

Bradford achieved prominence by being one of the firs cities to reap the benefits of the Industrial Revolution. Centuries since that economic and technological event, the city has continued to become one of the more important cities in the United Kingdom.

Population
293,717

Migration, immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• Whites are the biggest ethnic group at 78.27 per cent
• The rest are made up of different ethnic groups
• The largest ethnic minority in Bradford are Pakistanis

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Vital stats and business information for companies considering relocation to or setting up an office in Southampton.

Southampton, a unitary authority, is known for being the base to many luxury liners and for being the largest freight port on the Channel coast. It is also ranked as the seventh shopping centre in UK and hopes to even increase their status as a shopping centre by continuing with the third phase of the development of the West Quay Shopping Centre by 2008. The area is also very environmental friendly, being the only city in UK with its own geothermal power station.

Population
222,000 (ONS estimates – 2005)

Migration, immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• In 2001 Southampton had a higher proportion of 18-19 and 20-24 year olds compared to England and the South East due to the student population in the city.
• Ethnicity: White (92.4%), Mixed (1.5%), Asian or Asian British (3.8%), Black or Black British (1.0%), Chinese or Other (1.3%)
• Religion: Christian (65.6%), No religion (21.62%), Muslim (1.92%), Sikh (1.29%)

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