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Why West Yorkshire?

West Yorkshire is where opportunity lives. Say hello to the best place to live, work and invest in the UK. Home to Bradford - the 2025 UK City of Culture, the Northern square mile, a thriving creative hub, manufacturing powerhouse and a trailblazing HealthTech sector. Our thriving region is the ideal place to invest your business. 

Read on to discover more about what makes our region so great. Both for you and your business.

 

With a strong £74 billion economy, it’s a hotspot for education, featuring seven world-class universities. Plus, it's a booming hub for creativity. There's no better place in the UK to invest in your business.

West Yorkshire is home to over 95,000 businesses.  It also has more scale-up businesses than any other area in the UK, outside London. Your business growth starts right here.

 

Our region boasts a rich history and a bright future.

Business professionals networking and smiling

Where opportunity lives

Growth is the key word. West Yorkshire hosts several key sectors, including digital tech and AI, HealthTech, manufacturing, green economy and financial services. 

The future looks even brighter. With a young, talented workforce (Bradford has the youngest population of any European city) and a diverse community speaking over 170 languages, growth in West Yorkshire has no limits.

2.4 million

West Yorkshire is home to 2.4 million people

£74 billion

Our local economy is worth around £74 billion 

1.3 million

Our region has a workforce of 1.3 million people

95,000

We are the proud home of 95,000 individual businesses

7

West Yorkshire contains 7 world-class universities

43,000

Our authorities produce 43,000 graduates every year 

Calderdale is a place of creativity, trade and innovation. A place of great opportunity and inclusion. You just have to look up, look out and look within to see the beauty of our buildings, our landscapes and the strength of our character.

Councillor Jane Scullion

Leader of Calderdale Council

Rochdale Canal In Hebden Bridge

Kirklees is a such a brilliant place to represent. We have strong and diverse communities, cutting-edge industries and a huge sense of pride in our heritage. We’ve got a bright future too. Major improvements are coming to our transport network and we’re attracting investment into the economy in every part of Kirklees. All of this is going to bring opportunities for future generations in Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Batley and beyond.

Carole Pattison

Leader of Kirklees Council – Kirklees Together

Dewsbury Market

Leeds offers something unique; we are large enough to attract global brands but also agile enough to wrap our arms around smaller companies and the innovators of the future. We want Leeds to continue to be an outward looking city, part of a strong, northern economy that acts as a beacon for investment, a place that businesses and talent want to call home.

Councillor James Lewis

Leader of Leeds City Council

Corn Exchange In Leeds

For Wakefield council, economic wellbeing is something which delivers social justice and a sense of belonging. It builds active participation and dignity for all our residents. At the same time as driving inclusive and environmentally sustainable economic prosperity.

Councillor Denise Jeffery

Leader of Wakefield Council

Newmillerdam In Wakefield

City of Culture status will place Bradford district at the heart of the country’s cultural conversation attracting talent, and investment as well as creating new skills and jobs and building civic pride.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliff

Leader of Bradford Council

Family sitting on bench at Bradford interchange

Frequently asked questions about West Yorkshire

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