Expert Office Advice

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

Coventry is a cosmopolitan city and borough located in the West Midlands of England at the centre of the United Kingdom. With a population of over 400,000, it is the eight largest city in the UK. Coventry is famous for the 11th century tale of Lady Godiva, its two notable universities, its historic cathedral and its automobile industry. Coventry has also built an international reputation as Europe’s major city of peace, tolerance and reconciliation – welcoming people from all over the world.

Coventry is a vibrant city for business and commerce. Currently, a huge amount of money is being invested in a wide range of developments to meet the demands of the global economy. All over the city, projects are in place to ensure Coventry continues to be an ideal place to live and work.

Population
304,200 mid-year population estimate (2005)
Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Migration, immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• 84% of the population is white, including white Irish at 3.5%.
• 87% were born in the UK, 3.9% elsewhere in the UK and 9.1% outside of the EU.
• Christians make up 65.3% of the population followed by the Sikhs at 4.6%.
Source: ONS Census 2001

Unemployment/employment rate
• 71.8% of the population is employed.
• 6.5% is unemployed.
Source: ONS Annual Population Survey (July 2005 – June 2006)

Average income/salary
₤468.7 – gross weekly pay
Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings Workplace Analysis (2006)

Location within the UK and closest major location
• Situated in the West Midlands
• Located 100 miles northwest of London, 20 miles northeast of Stratford-upon-Avon, 19 miles southeast of Birmingham and 52 miles southwest of Nottingham

Transport options to and within
• Coventry has direct and easy access to five motorway links.
• It is serviced by regular train services that run to and from London and other major destinations.
• Buses cover most of the city focusing on routes from the city centre to the outskirts.
• Coventry and Birmingham International Airports fly passengers to various locations.

Closest airports with average distance from town/city centre
• Birmingham International Airport – 11 miles
• Coventry Airport – 5 miles
• Manchester Airport – 99 miles

Dominating sectors/industries
Coventry’s main industries include automobile production, aerospace components, textile and artificial fibers, machine tools, agricultural machinery and telecommunications equipment. As the city moves from a manufacturing base, Coventry’s economy has further diversified into financial services and creative industries. The city has also seen an impressive growth in the leisure sector. Coventry, an important educational centre, has recently established centres of higher education such as science parks and research and development hubs. Coventry is also recognised for its expertise in medical and healthcare technologies. Many medical technological companies are based in Coventry helping the city’s economy and providing work for its workforce.

Large companies that have headquarters or major branches in the location
• NHS Healthcare, AAH Pharmaceuticals
• Jaguar, Peugeot Citroen, Dunlop Standard
• Barclays Bank Plc, Tesco Stores Plc, British Telecom

Areas that are considered to be prime business locations
• Foleshill Enterprise Park
• Binley Business park
• Ricoh Arena

Major or annual business-related events
• The Godiva Festival – the largest free family festival in the UK
• Festival of Motoring – weekend festival in September celebrating Coventry’s motoring heritage

Other
The development of the Ricoh Arena, a huge leisure complex, has helped expand employment opportunities in the different business sectors.

Restrictions
Under the Consumer Credit Act of 1974, if a business offers credit or lends money to consumers, it must be licensed with the Consumer Credit Licensing Bureau of the Office of Fair Trading.

Special business benefits/dispensations
• Accelerate Grants are aimed at helping modernise SMEs engaged in the automotive supply chain.
• Diversification Grants help SMEs diversify away from traditional businesses.

3 best things about the location
• Coventry lies at the heart of England and is easily accessible by road, rail and air.
• The household income level of the resident population is above the UK and most Midlands average.
• Coventry has a large student population.

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