Expert Office Advice

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

The district of Wakefield, located at the heart of England, has a proud heritage with its city (Wakefield City) being the historic seat of regional government in Yorkshire. It is very spacious and quiet as a whole since 70% of its rural communities are designated as green belt.

Population
320,600 (ONS estimate 2005)

Migration, immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• Ethnicity: White (97.74%), Mixed (0.46%), Asian or Asian British (1.41%), Black or Black British (0.14%), Chinese or Other (0.26%)
• Religion: Christian (78.21%), No religion (11.74%), Muslim (1.14%)
• 97.76% of the population were born in UK while 0.56% come from other parts of EU and the rest (1.69%) coming from other parts of the world.

Unemployment/employment rate
• 58.85% are employed
• 3.53% are unemployed
• The rest of the population is either students, retired, homemakers or disabled.

Average income/salary
• £404.8 per week (ONS residence-based 2006)

Transport options to and within
• Good transport links to other parts of the country and fast connections by road, rail, and air.
• Has two railway stations – Wakefield Westgate (pretty good service) and Wakefield Kirkgate (bad service).
• Has a FreeCityBus scheme that connects key locations in the city.

Closest airports with average distance from town/city centre
• Leeds/Bradford International Airport - 14.52 miles
• Sheffield City Airport - 20.27 miles
• Robin Hood Airport - 25.28 miles

Dominating sectors / industries
• Wholesale & retail trade; repair of motor vehicles - 21.66%
• Manufacturing - 16.69%
• Health and social work - 10.86%
• Real estate; renting and business activities - 8.92%
Source: Census 2001 – Industry of Employment

Large companies that have headquarters or major branches in the location
• Arriva Yorkshire
• Redcats (UK) plc
• ASDA Distribution
• Xscape
• Rockware Glass Ltd
• Fujitsu Services
• Scottish & Newcastle Breweries
• Pioneer Electronics Technology (UK) Ltd
• Peter Duffy Ltd
• Burberrys Ltd

Areas that are considered to be prime business locations
• Ridings shopping centre
• Junction 32 Outlet Village (formerly Freeport)
• Xscape development

Awards won by the location – business or otherwise
• Wakefield Flood Scheme given Civil Engineering Environmental Quality and Assessment Scheme (CEEQUAL) Award
• Airedale Park gets Green Flag Award 2006
• Thornes Park Athletics Stadium get Quest Award for the quality of its sport and leisure facilities
• Wakefield District Business Awards - designed to recognise and celebrate the best of business in the Wakefield District

Special business benefits/dispensations
• Charitable & Discretionary Relief
• Hardship Relief
• Rural Rate Relief
• Small Business Rate Relief

3 best things about the location
• Major regeneration and development initiatives happening district.
• Great location – at the very heart of England.
• Clean environment.

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