Norwich

Norwich provides one third of the county's jobs and is the largest economy, in terms of employment, in the east of England.  It has been prioritised by the government as a new Growth Point; an area for major housing and employment growth.  In addition, Greater Norwich is one of seven areas in the east of England to be designated as an 'engine of growth'.

Norwich has the largest cluster of financial services in the eastern region and is also a major centre for creative/media industries and health and life sciences.  Other important business sectors include professional services, retailing, specialised engineering and tourism.  Norwich is home to two universities - the University of East Anglia (one of the UK's top 20 universities) and Norwich University College of the Arts.  City College Norwich is one of the largest colleges of further and high education in the UK.

Norwich is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK in terms of population growth (ranked 5th in the 2010 Cities Outlook report).  It is also one of the top 10 UK cities for the percentage of people employed in knowledge intensive industries.  In recent years Norwich ahs been transformed through a programme of construction projects, representing investment of over £1 billion.  There are a range of activities underway to support the city's planned economic growth, including Go For It!   Enterprising Norwich (the name of Norwich City Council's Local Enterprise Growth Initiative programme).

Norwich is showing resilience during the recession and has the 6th lowest growth rate in Jobseekers Allowance claimants in the UK  (2010 Cities Outlook report).

Norwich City Council's Chief Executive, Laura McGillivray, is a member of the management board of Shaping Norfolk's Future and partnership activities are co-ordinated through the council's economic development service.

Key Facts

• home to over 50 national and regional business headquarters
• one of the UK's top ten shopping centres
• world-wide links from Norwich International Airport
• InterCity rail service to London and direct hourly rail service to Cambridge
• second highest graduate retention rate in the country
• skills levels (degree level and above) exceed the national average
• the Greater Norwich economy is expected to grow by 27,000 jobs by 2026
• low cost business base with land and premises available in the city centre and on the urban fringe
• great quality of life - a safe, clean and beautiful historic city with easy access to countryside and coast
• a cultural gem - Norwich is packed with theatres, museums and art galleries
• choice of affordable, modern and period housing
• made the final four of the City of Culture 2013

Useful information:

Norwich fact file

Norwich brochure    

21 things you should know about Norwich

Go for It!  Enterprise In Norwich brochure

NAME:  Norwich Action for Marketing and Exhibitions - an opportunity for businesses based in Norwich who work in a range of sectors including ICT and Creative. Website coming soon. If you have any queries please email Emma Finn at  emma.finn@shapingnorfolksfuture.org.uk