Glasgow is a mature investment proposition and established business hub.
Glasgow’s status as an established destination for corporate and real estate investment and a preferred location for FTSE100 and AIM listed companies, has helped it to become recognised as a prosperous region that is open for business. As a national leader in insurance, maritime and whisky production with an International Financial Services District that continues to expand and new districts set to be unlocked, the city’s investment and employment activity las proven to be more resilient than most to the effects of the pandemic. Glasgow is now home to the UK’s joint largest concentration of insurance firms outside of London, is the top UK city for residential buyer demand, and has the largest office submarket outside of the capital. The agile and can-do attitude of the indigenous investee businesses and investment managers help to get deals done, while the “Team Glasgow” approach, underpinned by a proactive City Council and strong links between the city’s conference centres, universities, hotels and retail sector, combine effectively to attract new businesses to the region and build a compelling inward investment offer.
"Glasgow ranks 5th among mid-sized European cities for its FDI strategy for tech and innovation."
"Glasgow hosts the UK’s joint largest concentration of insurance firms outside of London – the sector employs 9% of the city’s workforce and contributes over £1bn to the economy."
"Total take-up in the Glasgow office market – city centre and out-of-town – is currently 55% above the ten year quarterly average with 1,200,000 sq ft under construction."
"As of Q1 2021, office take up in Glasgow city centre was 66% higher than the 10 year average – an exceptional feat considering that most of the office market was in full lockdown for most of the first half of the year."
"Glasgow is considered to be the leading ship management cluster in Europe, and is one of only few major UK cities outside London to have a sizeable maritime services industry of its own."
"Experimental FDI data from the ONS show that Glasgow experienced the 2nd highest relative increase in inward FDI between 2015 and 2019 in the UK, outside of London (after the Tees Valley)."
"Glasgow’s house prices are increasing faster than any other city in the UK, and even with uncertainties around Brexit, total forecast for Glasgow are expected to remain the same over - year period (15.4% price growth and 13.7% rental growth)."
"Glasgow is rated among the UK’s top 10 cities in the latest version of Investment Monitor’s UK Cities Scorecard, ahead of other UK core cities like Liverpool, Nottingham and Belfast."
"The Glasgow City Region Deal is still one of the most advanced in the UK and recently launched an improved contract pipeline to local businesses that includes over £150 million worth of tier one infrastructure contracts due to go to open tender in the coming three years."
"Glasgow is now 13th among mid-sized cities globally (or 5th among mid-sized European cities) in the US$300bn sector of outsourcing business processes."
"The BBC’s Television programme Dragon’s Den is moving its production base to Glasgow after nearly 20 series of production in England
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"Glasgow now sits comfortably within the top 50 financial centres in the world, having moved up 9 places since the last report and now confirmed as 17th in Western Europe."
"Analysis of economic vitality across major UK cities shows that Glasgow has proved most resilient in the face of the pandemic, with the city's rating having risen by 12.2% since the start of the first lockdown."
"Glasgow has taken 3rd place spot for FDI Strategy which benchmarks European cities and regions according to their economic, financial, and business strengths."
"A new report published by Screen Scotland highlighted the economic value of Scotland's film and TV industry revealing Glasgow is the leading centre of economic activity within the sector, accounting for 45% of direct employment and 49% of direct Gross value-added GVA. Film and TV helped generate almost £215m for the Glasgow economy in 2019 - equivalent to 3,720 full-time jobs."
"Glasgow has taken 3rd place spot for FDI Strategy which benchmarks European cities and regions according to their economic, financial, and business strengths."
"Glasgow has ranked third among UK cities for Residential Investment due to strong house price growth and one of the highest rental yields. Scotland’s largest city also benefits from its favourable affordability and strong EPC credentials."