Working in the Midlands
The Midlands is an amazing region that has the unique benefit of covering central England – providing everything from dramatic countryside and coastlines to traditional market towns and cosmopolitan cities, offering all you need to achieve a perfect work-life balance.
East Midlands
The East Midlands has a thriving economy, which has led to an excellent track record for attracting world-class companies in the transport, healthcare, food & drink and environmental sectors – Rolls-Royce, Toyota, Bombardier and AstraZeneca have all chosen the region for their headquarters. Low operating costs, high living standards, rapid transport links and impressive regeneration plans are leading to an increasing number of companies moving to the region.
England’s East Midlands is globally renowned for transport technology, including automotive, aerospace and rail, boasting world-class companies and strong research and development capabilities.
The region also has exceptional strengths in niche sectors including drug development, medical devices, food & drink technologies and alternative or renewable energies.
The region’s population is forecast to grow by 13.9% between 2004 and 2009, contributing to a sustainable labour supply. On an annual basis, the region generates approximately 48,000 graduates, creating a continual pool of talented recruits - leading to one of the fastest growing workforces in the UK.
The East Midlands’ central location offers tremendous advantages to organisations doing business in the UK. At the centre of the country’s transport infrastructure, just an hour from London, the region offers direct freight routes throughout the UK and into Europe.
Source: www.emda.org.uk
West Midlands
The West Midlands comprises the counties of Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire; the unitary authorities of Herefordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Telford and Wrekin; and the seven metropolitan districts of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
Since the Industrial Revolution, the West Midlands has continued to hold its reputation as the ‘workshop of the world’ - boasting a world-class business environment with highly developed supply chains and professional service networks.
A number of household names originate from the region including Cadbury Schweppes, JCB and Wedgwood, with an increasing number of businesses relocating to the area to prosper from the infrastructure, including Fujitsu, Vodafone and Muller.
The region offers a diversity of landscapes, attractions and events, from the Malvern Hills and Shakespeare’s Stratford to the industrial heritage of the Black Country or the Ryder Cup at the Belfry.