Reasons to invest
Glasgow is open for business. Top businesses tell us they choose Glasgow for many reasons: the quality and loyalty of the workforce, the cosmopolitan feel of a large city, great access, world-class and cost effective office space.
Here are our top 10 reasons to invest in Glasgow:
1. Location of choice
Glasgow is sixth in the UK for FDI while Scotland is the best performing UK region (outside of London)
2. Cost competitive
Glasgow’s labour and accommodation costs are lower than many other UK and European cities
3. Invested in the future
Over £16 billion capital investment since 2011
4. Talent and skills
Glasgow has a wealth of skills and talent thanks to world-class universities and colleges. The academic heart of Scotland, the city region is home to 185,000 students from 140 countries
5. People Make Glasgow
The city of Glasgow has a population of 621,000 totalling 1.8 million people in the wider city region. With one of the youngest populations in Scotland and 46% educated to degree level, finding and retaining staff is easy.
6. Accommodation to suit your needs
Glasgow has a steady supply of Grade-A office, retail, and leisure spaces to suit every size and type of business
7. Quality of life
Glasgow ranks high among the best UK cities for quality of life
8. Spirit of innovation
Glasgow is among Europe’s most innovative cities and plans are underway to establish Scotland’s first innovations districts: Glasgow City Innovation District (GCID), Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID) and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS).
9. Collaboration
The triple helix of cooperation among universities, business and the public sector enables greater levels of innovation
10. Dedicated support
Glasgow City Council’s Invest Glasgow is a dedicated resource for inward investment. Our team is on hand to work with you from initial contact to helping you get settled in the city and beyond
Award winning city
You don’t have to take our word for it, Glasgow’s status as a world-class city has been secured thanks to a number of prestigious accolades.
Top Large European City of the Future 2018/19
Glasgow has achieved an outstanding set of results in the prestigious fDi Intelligence ‘European Cities of the Future Awards 2018/19’. In the Large Cities categories, Glasgow was awarded: Top 10 overall Large City; Runner-up for FDI strategy; and Top 10 for Business Friendliness and Connectivity.
Top Ten Global City of the Future 2018/19
The city has also been ranked as a Top Ten Large Global City overall in 2018/19 by fDi Intelligence. As a further endorsement of the city’s appeal, Glasgow ranked 3rd for Business Friendliness, 4th for Human Capital and Lifestyle, and 6th for Connectivity.
One of the world’s best performing financial centres
The Global Financial Centres Index (Sep 2018) ranked Glasgow in the Top 50 of the world’s best performing financial centres and in the Top 15 of Europe’s best performing financial centres. Glasgow has the third most important financial centre in the UK with a dedicated International Financial Services District.
UK’s best convention bureau 13 years running
The Glasgow Convention Bureau at Glasgow Life was named the UK’s Best Convention Bureau for a record 13th time in 2019 at the influential Meetings & Incentive Travel (M&IT) Awards.
Top UK city for retail outside London
Glasgow is one of the UK’s largest and most successful shopping locations, after London’s West End, it is the first UK city for retail by comparison spend (tourists, workers and residents) (HDH 2017).
Top 5 sporting city in the world
Glasgow has maintained its place as one of the world’s top five Ultimate Sports Cities of 2018 as London was named at the top of SportBusiness International’s global ranking. Glasgow won the award for the world’s the Best Small City for hosting sporting events, while joining with New York, Melbourne and Auckland, as contenders for the overall prize.
World’s top indoor arena – The SSE Hydro
The SSE Hydro is ranked first in the global Billboard Chart Top 10 Venues Index (Mid-Sized Venues) and fourth in Pollstar’s Top 100 global arenas list for worldwide ticket sales – reinforcing its reputation as one of the top arenas in the world today.