Expert Office Advice

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

Luton Borough is located in a gap in the eastern part of the Chiltern Hills, which is in the south of England. It is a unitary authority. Luton is most famous for its its hats, cars, and carnival. Inhabitants of the borough are called Lutonians.

Population
184,371 (Census 2001)

Migration, immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• Majority of the population fall under the 30-44 age bracket (23%)
• Ethnicity - White (71.9%), Mixed (2.6%), Asian or Asian British (18.3%), Black or Black British (6.3%), Chinese or Other (0.9%)
• Migrant residents comprise 14.6% of the population.
• Most workers have Lower Managerial and Professional Occupations (16.2%) or Semi-routine Occupations (13.3%).

Unemployment/employment rate
• 63.3% are employed
• 3.9% are unemployed
• The rest of the population are either students, retired, homemakers or disabled.

Average income/salary
• £29,100 - average annual income for 2002

Location within the UK and closest major location
• Located in south England.
• 32 miles north of London

Transport options to and within
• Well connected via transport links.
• Home to famous London Luton Airport
• Good rail connections with plans of having 24-hour rail services to Luton and Luton Airport Parkway.

Closest airports with average distance from town/city centre
• London Luton Airport - 2.47miles
• London Heathrow Airport - 29.18miles
• London Stansted Airport - 29.46 miles

Dominating sectors / industries
• Manufacturing - 19%
• Wholesale/retail trade repair etc.- 17.3%
• Real Estate, renting, business activities - 12.6%
• Transport, storage and communication - 10.6%
Data from Luton Borough Census 2001 Key Statistics

Large companies that have headquarters or major branches in the location
• Anritsu - electronics
• AstraZeneca - pharmaceuticals
• BAE Systems - aerospace
• Ernst & Young - accountants
• Mazars - accountants
• Siemens - electronics
• Whitbread - hospitality
• Vauxhall - Headquarters

Areas that are considered to be prime business locations
• Galaxy Centre
• Arndale
• Bury Park
• Butterfield Business and Technology Park
• Napier Park
• Luton Town Centre

Major or annual business-related events
• Luton Carnival - largest annual one-day carnival in Europe
• Filmstock - Luton’s International film festival

Other
• The magnificent Luton Hoo estate is to open in 2007 as a luxury hotel.

Restrictions
• No-smoking ban

Special business benefits/dispensations
• Empty Property Rating
• Charitable and Discretionary Relief
• Rate relief for new, non-agricultural business on previously agricultural land or buildings
• Rate relief for businesses in rural areas

3 best things about the location
• Regeneration of the area just beginning so you can expect things to get busy in the future.
• Large cultural base making for plenty of festivals, parks and and a hopping nightlife.
• Existence of Butterfield Business and Technology Park, where you can get first class accommodation and full business support on ‘easy in - easy out’ terms. Opens Spring 2007.

Comprehensive list of Luton office space including short term and serviced

Resources, stats and info on emerging key business locations and commercial property in the UK:

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