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Wolverhampton. Making it happen
The right place, the right people, the right attitude
The City of Wolverhampton is a place where things happen, a place where creativity
and innovation are seamlessly combined with state-of-the-art business environments and industry leading manufacturing.
From ‘Nautilus’ and Sir Malcolm Campbell’s ‘Sunbeam’ to Sir Henry Segrave’s ‘Slug’ and critical components for the Spitfire, Vulcan, Concorde and A380, our great City continues to leave its undeniable mark on the world.
And the fact we regularly punch above our weight in pushing the frontiers of science and technology is in no small part down to the ingenuity and passion of our greatest asset... our people and their unique ability to ‘make things happen’.
It is this attitude that continues to attract global businesses to the City of Wolverhampton and is now a driving force in a multi-billion pound regeneration programme that will focus on improving transport and education whilst delivering new technology parks and urban villages.
At the heart of Europe
Making the business case for choosing the City of Wolverhampton is not difficult.
Our position at the centre of the UK provides companies with ease of access to the main motorway network, the West Coast Main Line and an international airport offering more than 140 routes to Europe and the rest of the world.
Enterprise and commerce is part of everyday life in our vibrant City, but you would expect nothing else from one of the main driving forces of the industrial revolution.
Today, a highly skilled workforce of more than 144,000 people support over 8,500 companies covering a broad spectrum of industries.
Our economic base is as rich as our cultural diversity, with our business community featuring a mix of long-established local firms, vibrant and dynamic start-ups and a host of global businesses proud to call the City of Wolverhampton their home.
Dynamic economy
The rich manufacturing heritage synonymous with the City of Wolverhampton is still well represented in our 21st Century economy.
Leading first and second tier companies are supplying global companies in the aerospace automotive, construction, medical and security markets from bases in the area.
We have also moved with the times and are as comfortable embracing new sectors as we are in maximising traditional strengths.
Thanks to an effective mix of tailored business support, academic expertise and high quality business accommodation, we have been able to cultivate strong clusters in food and drink production, professional services, medical technologies and creative and digital media.
Well connected
It is no exaggeration when we say we are at the crossroads of the United Kingdom. And our central location has already proved a big draw for national and international companies, including Assa Abloy, Carillion and the State Bank of India.
Central location is an important asset for these businesses and in today’s international marketplace, the City of Wolverhampton offers a cost-effective gateway to key domestic and European cities.
Our close proximity to the main motorway network and advantageous location on the West Coast Main Line means Birmingham, Manchester and London can be reached in 17 minutes, 65 minutes and 98 minutes respectively.
Air travel is within easy reach too, with the international airport just 25 miles away and providing direct flights to more than 140 locations. Wolverhampton Business Airport continues to grow in popularity and work is underway to develop an executive commuter port for the City.
Mixing business with pleasure
There’s a lot more to the Black Country’s only City than its bustling business scene.
Bordering picturesque countryside in Staffordshire and Shropshire, the City of Wolverhampton offers all types of accommodation, from high quality city centre living to semi-rural villages.
We are proud of our canals that stretch for miles, our wildlife havens and masses of open spaces, including one of England’s finest Victorian parks.
The City of Wolverhampton is steeped in history with Wightwick Manor and Gardens, Moseley Old Hall and Bantock House Museum providing a stunning look back at the past, whilst visitors can also delve into Britain’s proud aviation history with Boulton Paul and the Royal Air Force Museum at nearby Cosford.
An appetite for culture continues to grow, including two theatres, cinemas and a dedicated media centre at the historic Chubb building. And those with a thirst for sport, can enjoy Premiership football with Wolverhampton Wanderers and horse racing at the all-weather Dunstall Park Racecourse.
Many unexpected treasures for you to discover, whether you live, visit or work in our great City.
Be part of the action
With a multi-billion pound programme of investment planned for the next few years, the City of Wolverhampton is ready to grow with bold, new spaces and places set to complement the existing fabric of the City.
The transformation programme is one of the largest we have ever seen and will touch every aspect of life through a number of multi-million pound projects.
The i54 technology park at the northern edge of the City will provide major national and international inward investment opportunities and, once completed, has the potential to create in excess of 6,000 jobs.
Bilston Urban Village will be equally important in developing new open spaces and 900 new homes, Wolverhampton Building Schools for the Future will revolutionise education in 26 secondary schools and Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the early throes of a £40m revamp of Molineux football stadium.
Underpinning all of this investment is the Wolverhampton Interchange, which will create the City’s transport hub – a showcase facility where road, rail, bus and metro services come together in a single location. Phase 2 will see improvements to the rail station and the unlocking of high quality commercial and retail space.
The life and soul of the party
People power is an important attraction when doing business in the City of Wolverhampton. We don’t just think they are our biggest asset, we know they are – visitors, tourists and industrialists are not shy in confirming this.
The workforce of today is highly skilled, hard working and the spirit of enterprise that embodied the early inventions is still as strong as ever, ably assisted by the pioneering work of nine Universities in the West Midlands.
Most impressive of all though is the passion local people display for the City in which they live. This can be seen in the eagerness of companies to work together to boost the local economy and the host of Business Champions that travel the world telling people about the City of Wolverhampton.
These qualities are infectious and companies relocating here often incorporate them into the way they do business.
Diversity is the spice of life
The City of Wolverhampton prides itself on our ‘super diversity’ and the different cultures that brings with it. It’s another example of what makes us different. With a quarter of our population made up of black and minority ethnic groups, we are easily the second most diverse City in the West Midlands.
This gives us a tremendous insight into different ways of life and we have successfully managed to blend this together into vibrant multi-cultural communities and a fast growing business base of diverse companies.
Increasing diversity has also played a role in boosting inward investment to the City of Wolverhampton, especially from Asian companies.
An educated future
Secondary school education in the City of Wolverhampton is undergoing its biggest ever transformation.
The launch of the £370m Building Schools for the Future programme will pave the way for the rebuild or refurbishment of 24 schools and the construction of two new academies.
Over 40,000 young people will benefit from world class learning environments that inspire and engage pupils. There will also be a wider impact on increasing community led learning opportunities.
This - when combined with the City of Wolverhampton College’s strong relationships with the region’s engineering companies - will ensure the next generation pipeline of skilled workers is well stocked.
Skills to pay the bills
Business and academia working together is a key feature of the City of Wolverhampton’s appeal.
We can tap into the R&D facilities and knowledge base of 9 top quality universities and an annual pool of 50,000 graduates, 5,000 of which are currently employed in the aerospace industry.
This complements an existing labour market that is already strong in computer science, design, engineering, manufacturing and technology with the City of Wolverhampton College a top three provider of apprentices in the West Midlands.
Universities do much more than creating the workforce of tomorrow and the University of Wolverhampton is recognised as one of the most entrepreneurial, business-facing universities in the UK.
In the last few years, it has supported businesses with consultancy, R&D facilities, skills development and knowledge transfer activities worth £25.6m.
Flying high
The City of Wolverhampton boasts the largest cluster of aerospace 1st tier suppliers in the West Midlands.
Our credentials in this sector are extremely impressive and today’s generation are no strangers in setting the bar high when it comes to world class standards and innovation.
Technological advantage, pedigree and a reputation for being ‘easy to do business with’ helps contribute to a collective turnover of more than £300m and an industry that employs in excess of 2,000 people.
Our 1st tiers - Goodrich Actuation Systems, HS Marston Aerospace, Moog Aircraft Group and Timken UK - continue to be at the forefront for supplying precision parts for a host of aircraft, including the Boeing 787 and Airbus A380.
They have chosen to operate from our City due to the skills of our people, a top performing supply chain and a supportive and inclusive business environment.
Be part of our engineering future
Some of the most technically demanding aircraft systems are designed, developed and manufactured in the City of Wolverhampton, a fact we are extremely proud of.
Products, ranging from heat transfer and fluid management to fly-by wire actuation systems and anti-friction bearings, continue to revolutionise modern day aircraft, with the West Midlands heavily involved in aerospace programmes, including Rolls Royce Trent Series Engines, Eurofighter (Typhoon) and the next generation of Airbus and Boeing models.
Our four Tier 1 aerospace companies are ably supported by a supply chain featuring more than 200 businesses. And reinforcing all of this is specialist business support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service, through the SC21 programme, Midlands Aerospace Alliance and the recently launched Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme.
All the ingredients are in place to make sure the City of Wolverhampton continues to be a driving force in the evolution of the global aerospace sector. Put simply, we’re going places.
Our promise to you
Our track record in attracting and helping businesses boom in the City of Wolverhampton is based on over 1,000 years experience in enterprise, innovation and trade.
From the warm welcome by locals and a vibrant commercial marketplace, to high quality space and a supportive business environment, companies relocating here are delighted at how easy it is to do business.
Numerous national and international companies, including Carillion PLC, Marston’s PLC, Turner Powertrain, Mueller Europe and Birmingham Midshires, boast strong global bases in the City and form an integral part of our economy.
We do not rest on our laurels. The regeneration programme we have planned will improve transport infrastructure even further, secondary school education is being revolutionised and we continue to look at ways to encourage enterprise.
The time is now for your business to be part of a dynamic and exciting future for one of the UK’s youngest Cities.
Of course you can
‘A can do’ attitude is at the heart of everything we do.
We revel in making life easy and this is reflected in our ability to sustain long-term relationships with corporate businesses.
It is also reflected in the recent launch of the Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre (WBSC), which offers organisations looking to move to our City a single reference point for all of their enquiries.
The only one of its type in the UK, it brings together five different partner organisations under one integrated business solutions offer, saving companies valuable time and resources when seeking information and support.
Why you need to work with us
Skilled people, state-of-the-art business accommodation, an excellent education system and an attitude where anything is possible.
Just some of the many reasons companies like doing business in the City of Wolverhampton. But don’t just take our word for it...
“Wolverhampton and its central location offers us excellent access to road, rail and air travel and, importantly, good availability of engineering skills and competencies.”
“I started my business in Wolverhampton and it has grown successfully thanks to the community feel that is unique to the City. It’s a place that openly welcomes innovation and helps companies get things done!”
“A well established business and professional services community makes Wolverhampton an ideal base for one of our offices and we are looking forward to exploring the opportunities set to arise from future infrastructure and regeneration projects.”
Let’s do lunch
Ok, you’ve heard all about the City of Wolverhampton and what it can offer, now it’s time to find out about your business and how we can help.
Whether it’s over lunch, a quick coffee or a formal meeting, we’d be happy to talk to you about your plans and the opportunities that exist in a place where business, enterprise and innovation are in our genes.
Wolverhampton City Council, Civic Centre, St Peter’s Square, Wolverhampton WV1 1SH
Tel: 01902 556556