About Us
Welcome to Gloucestershire, the place to innovate and grow your business.
Invest in Gloucestershire was created with a simple yet ambitious goal in mind – to showcase the best that our county has to offer to the international business community and encourage growth through inward investment.
Why Gloucestershire?
When it comes to finding a UK home for your business, why choose Gloucestershire?
Centrally located in the UK and just two hours from London, with towns and cities nestled within the world-famous Cotswolds. Home to GCHQ and the birth of the jet engine, Gloucestershire has been the pushing boundaries of innovation and pioneering technology for over 200 years.
A thriving economy
Not only is Gloucestershire home to global brands, but we also have thousands of thriving early-stage businesses located within our borders.
The region is the base of operations for world-class businesses including GCHQ, Superdry, Safran, Unilever, GE Aviation, Mira Showers, UCAS, Renishaw, Moog and many more. Gloucestershire also offers unrivalled business support via The Growth Hub – a single point of contact for over 26,000 businesses and new start-ups that provides key support services. So no matter where your business is located in the supply chain, you’ll find a great network of local and international companies to grow with in Gloucestershire.
Our skilled workforce
We know that people are crucial to your business’ success, and we’re proud of ours. Gloucestershire has one of the highest rates of employment in the South West, and the highest proportion of employees in export-intensive sectors outside of London.
A university population of over 11,000 students and quick links to major research institutions in Oxford, Bath and Bristol make Gloucestershire a sought-after destination for companies looking for highly qualified employees and top-notch R&D facilities. We’ve put skills development at the top of our strategic agenda, with a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
A gateway to the world
Served by excellent rail and road transportation links, Gloucestershire is a gateway to the urban hubs of Bristol, Birmingham, Oxford, Cardiff and London. The ‘Growth Zone’ project in the M5 motorway corridor will increase the availability of land for commercial, industrial and residential uses, providing unparalleled transport links in the North-South axis and excellent opportunities for business expansion. Major regeneration schemes worth £220 million are also taking place throughout the county, fuelling economic growth.
Our services
Our experienced team provide a broad range of services to assist investors in their quest for finding their new UK base. We understand our investors have specific requirements to which the team tailors its support to ensure businesses feel completely supported and informed about the local landscape and opportunity.
Our local expertise includes:
- Confidential property and development solutions
- Access to financial assistance and business support
- Introductions to partners; companies, R&D assets and sector stakeholders
- Network & cluster development
- Assistance with recruitment, training & skills
- Business, academic and government links
- International business relocation support
- Bespoke tours of the area
Invest in the UK – Great.gov.uk
The Department of Business and Trade can help businesses expand and provide support on how to expand your business, find investment opportunities and provide advice on tax and incentives.
Our team work closely with the Investment Services team at DBT to ensure a joined up approach to supporting Foreign Direct Investment.
There is also free guide available which takes you through the practical steps of setting up a business like opening a bank account and applying for a visa, in an easy checklist format.
Top educational facilities
Gloucestershire is home to a number of leading universities and schools, providing education opportunities for both local and international students. The University of Gloucestershire provides cutting edge facilities, and over 95% of its graduates are in employment or further education within six months of graduating. We’re also proud to be the home of numerous specialist facilities, including Royal Agricultural University, the world’s oldest agricultural university, Hartpury University and Hartpury College, which specialises in equine education, and SGS Berkeley Green, a specialist engineering, digital technologies and cyber security college.
A beautiful place to visit
Our county is a cultural haven and one of the most picturesque locations in Europe. Over half of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty can be found in Gloucestershire, and plenty of bustling market towns, picture-perfect villages and Britain's most complete regency town are nestled within our borders. We also host world-renowned festivals, including the Cheltenham Literature Festival, and are home to one of the world’s most famous racecourses.
A great place to live
With average house prices in Gloucestershire around 50% cheaper than the London average, our county offers an affordable, inspiring place to live for everybody. Gloucestershire’s mixture of modern entertainment complexes, new exciting developments and breathtaking rural landscapes makes it the perfect county to call home.
Our team
Sectors
A diverse and prosperous economy is what best defines Gloucestershire’s business landscape. From multinational fashion industry leaders to financial pioneers and everything in between, our cross-sectoral offer is unrivalled.
Districts
Gloucestershire is home to six distinct districts, each with their own unique character and opportunities. The Invest in Gloucestershire initiative is run in collaboration with these six district councils, as well as Gloucestershire County Council.
