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 the number one city in Scotland 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 £15 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, there city is home to 130,000 students from 135 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 44% 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 in the Merchant City and West End
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 Magazine ‘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 for fDi Strategy 2016/17
Glasgow has been recognised as a Top Ten Global City for FDI Strategy. Ranked seventh, this is a true endorsement of the city’s appeal as a location for FDI. Glasgow also received bespoke awards for worker training (The Glasgow Guarantee) and a specialism award for life sciences.
One of the world’s best performing financial centres
The Global Financial Centres Index (Sep 2017) 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 11 years running
The Glasgow Convention Bureau at Glasgow Life was named the UK’s Best Convention Bureau for a record 11th time in 2017 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 is ranked fifth in the world’s top 10 sporting cities (SportBusiness Ultimate Sports City 2016 Awards) ahead of Olympic cities such as Los Angeles, Tokyo, Sydney, Amsterdam and Paris. Glasgow was also named the No. 1 city in the world in the Legacy category in recognition of its commitment to increasing sports participation for citizens.
World’s top indoor arena – The SSE Hydro
The SSE Hydro is ranked first in the global Billboard Chart Top 10 Venues Index and third in Pollstar’s Top 100 global arenas list