WHY INVEST?

Why Invest in South Yorkshire?

South Yorkshire offers a wealth of business opportunities and a refreshing ‘can do’ approach.

Located in the heart of the United Kingdom, South Yorkshire is building a global corridor of innovation that connects people, businesses, ideas and innovation.

Our specialist inward investment experts work hard to help organisations reduce their risk and enjoy a streamlined way of doing business. We can offer competitive property and employment costs, an extremely supportive industry environment, and a well-qualified and committed workforce.

Research facilities and our university-industry partnerships are respected worldwide. We are home to the internationally-renowned Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District, home to the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), as well as the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, where Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) will soon be the most advanced research and development centre for physical activity in the world, providing state-of-the-art, fully instrumented indoor and outdoor laboratories and a team of more than 70 researchers delivering collaborative projects.

The Advanced Transport and Infrastructure National College and the iPort tand testament to how easy it is to do business here in South Yorkshire – and global businesses such as McLaren, Boeing, Rolls Royce and Amazon are among the many international companies which have already seen the benefits of locating at the heart of our super-connected and growing economy.

Testimonials

“It was a huge honour to sponsor South Yorkshire for the first time this year at MIPIM.  It is clear that region is thriving and attracting some fantastic inward investment.  BE Design are thrilled to be playing a significant role in delivering a number of complex regeneration projects around the City and look forward to continuing and growing its links with the South Yorkshire in the coming year.” Stephen Oakden, director at BE Design

“In July last year, Atkins opened a new office in Sheffield and we’re now even better placed to deliver to clients across the region. Our new office is a global hub for engineering excellence at Sheffield’s digital campus and demonstrates our commitment to, and confidence in, the city and city region.” Gary Ireland, client director at Atkins (a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group)

“We’re extremely proud to have been appointed to lead the Sheffield Midland Station masterplan study where we will provide a wide range of integrated services to develop a long-term and ambitious vision for the station and surrounding cityscape.  The study will shape an efficient and effective multimodal hub and regional gateway that will help enhance the economic and social prosperity and promote growth.

“By integrating planned HS2 and NPR services, the study will establish a programme level blueprint to unlock the development potential of the surrounding area over the next 30 years; enhance user experiences in and around the station; and improve urban connectivity and public realm around the station.”

“We are looking for a competitive supply chain and Sheffield has the right culture, environment, heritage and the right technical advantage.” Dr Hamid Mughai, Executive VP Manufacturing Engineering and Technology Rolls-Royce

“We have seen the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre grow in the last decade to a multi-million-pound research centre. Such is its excellence in our view and its understanding of the interface between manufacturing research and industrial application, we use Sheffield as a benchmark globally.” – Sir Roger Bone, President of Boeing UK

“This will be the most advanced factory in the world. It will give us a home for the research and demonstration work associated with building the next generation of aircraft and energy technologies.” – Professor Keith Ridgway CBE, Executive Dean of the University of Sheffield AMRC

“The now-iconic McLaren F1 was the world’s first road car to be built with a carbon fibre chassis and every car built more recently by McLaren Automotive has the same. Creating a facility where we can manufacture our own carbon fibre chassis structures is therefore a logical next step…

We evaluated several options to achieve this objective, but the opportunity created by the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre at the University of Sheffield was compelling. At the AMRC, we will have access to some of the world’s finest composites and materials research capabilities, and I look forward to building a world-class facility and talented team at the new McLaren Composites Technology Centre.” – Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive

“The Global Innovation Corridor will be based on our region’s capabilities. It will connect the region more effectively to the UK’s fastest-growing airport, attract new global investors, and link our business community to the opportunities of being part of global supply chains.

This is a region with its best days in front of it.

We’re putting in place the right assets, developing the right people and growing and attracting the right businesses. And we’re doing it by focusing on what we’re good at.” – Dan Jarvis MBE MP, Mayor of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

“There are fantastic facilities in Sheffield. Sheffield has the right culture, environment, heritage and the right technical advantage, not just for low level manufacturing competitiveness, but the advanced level.” – Dr Hamid Mughal, Executive Vice President, Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology, Rolls-Royce

“Rotherham was chosen for its strong tradition of engineering excellence, highly skilled workforce and excellence in machining. The blades produced here allow us to be globally competitive… this is the most advanced blade casting facility in the world.” – Gareth Davies, EVP Turbines, Rolls Royce

“ The AMRC contains an impressive array of specialised facilities, each dedicated to providing advanced manufacturing companies in the region and beyond access to industrial expertise, cutting-edge machines and equipment, and, ultimately, solutions to complex technological challenges.”  – Bruce Katz – Vice President of the Brookings Institution

“Sheffield is the engineering and manufacturing capital of the UK; we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” – Dr Graham Cooley, CEO, ITM Power

“ Sheffield understands the power  of sport not just in terms of elite level but the way to harness this to local communities and I think this is a city that’s done that in an exemplary way  and should be seen as a template for  so many other cities not just in the  UK but around the world.” – Lord Coe

“We already have two fulfilment centres in Doncaster so know from experience that there is strong talent in the region.” – John Tagawa, UK Operations Director, Amazon

“The UK government has created a stable framework to attract inward investment in renewables and offshore wind power in particular. The competition for land development, announced in the Budget last week, gives us confidence that the appropriate UK port infrastructure can be made available to support our production plans.” – Andreas Goss, Chief Executive, Siemens UK

“Logistics have been critical to our business growth. Barnsley’s central location, good road links, and easy access to airports were crucial considerations in our decision to locate here. We have also been able to recruit from a large population within South Yorkshire.” – Masood Choudry, Logistics Manager, ASOS

“Being at the heart of the UK was a key factor in selecting the site for our National Distribution Centre, Doncaster is fast becoming the logistics capital of the north.” – Mark Filer, International Projects, UK & Benelux, Logistics Manager, Scotts Miracle Gro