Expert Office Advice

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

Norwich is set in the heart of East Anglia. It is the fourth most densely populated Local Authority District within the Eastern Region and is currently under consideration for being classified as a unitary authority. Norwich is proud to be the most complete medieval city in Britain and is offers much for tourists. It is also considered to be among the top five places to shop in Britain.

Population
121,550 (Census 2001)

Migration, immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• Ethnicity: White (96.8%), Mixed race (1.08%), South Asian (0.85%), Chinese (0.38%), Black (0.35%)
• 91.08% of the population were born in England while 4.89% come from other parts of EU and the rest coming from other parts of the world.
• The workforce mostly works in Lower managerial and professional occupations (16.56%), Semi-routine occupations (12.82%), Routine Occupations (11.667%), and as Full-time students (11.29%).

Unemployment/employment rate
• 60.25% are employed
• 4.12% are unemployed
• The rest of the population are either students, retired, homemakers or disabled.

Location within the UK and closest major location
• Located in East Anglia in east England
• Part of Norfolk.

Transport options to and within
• Norwich is well connected both internationally and with the rest of the UK due to its own international airport.
• Rail service is very good and the motorways have recently been improved.

Closest airports with average distance from town/city centre
• Norwich International Airport - 1.72 miles
• London Stansted Airport - 68.57 miles

Dominating sectors / industries
• Wholesale & retail trade; repair of motor vehicles - 18.18%
• Manufacturing - 13.08%
• Health and social work - 11.62%
• Real estate; renting and business activities - 11.59%
Census 2001 - Industry Employment

Large companies that have headquarters or major branches in the location
• Norwich Union
• Virgin
• Adobe
• Colmans
• Unilever
• Kettle Foods
• KLM
• PricewaterhouseCoopers

Areas that are considered to be prime business locations
• Prince of Wales Road
• Tombland
• Riverside
• St Benedicts Street
• Norwich Market
• The Royal Arcade
• Chapelfield
• The Mall Norwich
• London Street
• Norwich Lanes East and West
• Cathedral Retail Park
• Anglia Square
• Magdalen Street

Awards
• BCSC Gold Award given to Chapelfield Norwich for Best In-Town Retail Scheme
• Civic Building of the Year award given by Serving Construction & Architecture in Local Authorities to the Norwich Bus Station
• CAMRA National Pub of the Year (2005) given to Fat Cat Pub

Other
• Currently vying for unitary status. Already shortlisted.

Restrictions
• Smoking ban (July 1, 2007)

Special business benefits/dispensations
• Unoccupied property rates
• Partly occupied property relief
• Small Business Rate relief
• Charity and registered community amateur sports club relief
• Non-profit making organisation relief
• Hardship relief

3 best things about the location
• Norwich rental costs for offices, industrial and retail premises are lower than in neighbouring towns.
• Norwich is considered to be one of the top ten retail centres in the UK especially with the new retail development - Chapelfield.
• Norwich is the largest General Insurance Centre in the UK.

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