Wales
Wales has a history of innovation and continues to be at the cutting-edge of technology and sustainability.
Wales has a talented workforce and strong research and development facilities. It’s producing technology for the future in advanced manufacturing, life sciences, clean tech and digital sectors. More than 1,395 foreign-owned companies are operating in Wales, including Toyota, Siemens Healthineers GE, Sony and Airbus.
Expanding your business
Wales is highly competitive on cost, with great value for office and industrial space.
Welsh businesses access graduates from 4 QS world ranked universities. The excellent quality of life and leisure opportunities attracts many talented graduates to live and work there.
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Investing capital
Large capital and venture capital investors in Wales enjoy a range of regional and national incentives, including grants towards capital expenditure and job creation.
£1.7 billion has been committed to progress city and growth deals across all of Wales. The investments are creating world-class infrastructure that enables businesses to grow and flourish.
Buying goods and services
Wales offers access via rail, road and air to major cities in the UK and internationally. Cardiff is less than 2 hours from central London by train.
Wales has 8 enterprise zones across the country, providing a range of financial incentives, each specialising in a particular sector. The Anglesey enterprise zone focuses on low-carbon energy.
Other opportunities
- Less than 2 hours
- train travel between Cardiff and London
- £115.2 billion
- of goods exported from Wales in 2021
- 3
- National Parks which cover 20% of Wales
- 3,600
- tech businesses employing 45,000 people
- £794 million
- spent on R&D in 2019
- 8
- Universities
- 30%
- of the Welsh population aged 21- 64 are college graduates
- Over 3 million
- population
Strategic markets
Creative and digital
Creative industries is one of the fastest growing sectors in Wales, with an annual turnover of more than £1.7 billion. Wales has a thriving TV and film production industry, producing shows such as Sherlock and His Dark Materials.
Wales is also home to a strong fintech and insurtech cluster, supporting companies including GoCompare and Admiral.
Clean growth
The renewable energy sector in Wales generates over £4.8 billion in revenue. Innovative projects coupled with commitments for a low-carbon future present opportunities in renewable energy technologies. Wales has the potential to generate around 10 gigawatts (GW) from marine energy alone.
Tourism
Tourism in Wales is a £6 billion industry and offers vast opportunities for growth. Wales has 3 National Parks and 5 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The coastal path outlining the entire coast spans across 1,400 kilometres.
Case study
Starling Bank
Since first taking flight in 2014, Starling Bank has caused quite a murmuration in the banking community. Now the UK’s fastest-growing bank, Starling is tapping into the talent of Wales’s Fintech sector.