Expert Office Advice

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

The City of Wolverhampton is a metropolitan borough that was granted city status in December 18, 2000 making it one of three “Millennium Cities”. According to the 2001 census, Wolverhampton is the largest sub-area in the West Midlands conurbation. Wolverhampton is home to one of the leading speedway clubs in UK, Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletics Club, as well as the first all-weather horse racing courses in the UK and Britain’s only floodlit horse race track, Wolverhampton Racecourse.

Population
239,600 (ONS estimate 2005)

Migration, immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• Ethnicity: White (77.79%), Mixed (2.72%), Asian or Asian British (14.32%), Black or Black British (4.6%), Chinese or Other (0.57%)
• Religion: Christian (66.49%), No religion (11.38%), Sikh (7.58%), HIndu (3.89%), Muslim (1.72%)
• The workforce is mostly works in Semi-routine occupations (15.01%), Lower managerial and professional occupations (14.04%) or Routine occupations (12.16%).
• 89.5% of the population in Wolverhampton were born in the United Kingdom, 0.77% elsewhere in EU and a pretty large percentage of 9.73% outside EU.

Unemployment/employment rate
• 56.88% are employed
• 5.32% are unemployed
• The rest of the population are either students, retired, homemakers or disabled.

Average income/salary
• £388.1 per week (residence-based salary ONS 2006)

Location within the UK and closest major location
• Located in the West Midlands
• Birmingham - to the south east
• Staffordshire - to the north

Transport options to and within
• Well-served motorways with the main roads radiating from Wolverhampton’s Ring Road.
• Has its own local airport.
• Well connected via rail.

Closest airports with average distance from town/city centre
• Wolverhampton Business Airport - 8 miles
• Birmingham International Airport - 25 miles
• Manchester Airport

Dominating sectors / industries
• Manufacturing - 23.83%
• Wholesale & retail trade; repair of motor vehicles - 18.38%
• Health and social work - 11.16%
• Real estate; renting and business activities - 9.17%
• Census 2001 - Industry of Employment

Areas that are considered to be prime business locations
• Wolverhampton Business Park
• areas to the north of the city centre
• areas adjacent to the A449 and M54 motorway

Major or annual business-related events
• Tour of Britain 2007 - to pass by Wolverhampton on September 12, 2007

Awards
• “Sensing Sculpture” at Wolverhampton Art Gallery

Other
Numerous regeneration projects including the following:
• Shopping core expansion
• Canalside Quarter regeneration
• Market Square Development (completed 2004)
• Bilston Urban Village
• City Centre Improvement

Restrictions
• Gambling Act 2005

Special business benefits/dispensations
• Transitional arrangements
• Unoccupied property rating
• Mandatory and Charitable Rate Relief
• Rate Relief for Sports Clubs
• Rate Relief for Small Businesses

3 best things about the location
• Located at the heart of UK’s motorway and railway network.
• Unprecedented levels of investment happening at the moment changing Wolverhampton for the better.
• Technology-led development resulting in its being one of three High Technology Corridors.

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