The Garment Factory (2) min
The Garment Factory (2) min
Why Glasgow?

Business Environment

Top businesses choose Glasgow for many reasons. Primary reasons include the quality and loyalty of the flexible and qualified workforce, the cosmopolitan feel of a large city, great access and digital connectivity, cost-effective office space, proximity to market and customers, as well as the ease of doing business. With one of the youngest populations in Scotland and 53.9% educated to degree level, finding and retaining talented staff is easy. 

Quality of workforce

Cosmopolitan feel of a large city

Impressive digital connectivity

Cost-effective office space

Proximity to market and customers

Ease of doing business

Public, private and academic networks are well connected and there are a wealth of established regular meetups and business networks for new entrants to tap into and learn from.

Major global businesses are attracted to Glasgow as their preferred business location because it is one of the most affordable cities in the UK and Europe, offering businesses excellent value for money and access to an exceptional business environment.

"A large contingent of Glasgow’s population also works in the banking sector or in compliance. So, you tend to find more experienced middle to back-office financial professionals here in Glasgow."

– Gopal Hariharan, Founder of BlackArrow

Grade A office rents…

73%

less expensive than London (West End)

AY Q2 2023

10%

less expensive than Manchester

AY Q2 2023

12%

less expensive than Birmingham

AY Q2 2023

Inward Investment attractiveness…

Over £19bn

capital investment since 2011

Ranked 4th

in the UK for Foreign Direct Investment in 2022 (outside London)

(EY Attractiveness Survey)

Ranked 3rd

FDI Strategy

fDi Large European City of the Future 2023/24

Ranked 6th

Connectivity

fDi Large European City of the Future 2023/24

Glasgow-based global businesses employee numbers…

Scottish Power Logo

5,000 employees

Barclays Logo

5,000 employees

Virgin Money logo

3,000 employees

BAE Systems Maritime logo

3,000 employees

Weir Group Logo

3,000 employees

Morgan Stanley Logo

2,200 employees

JP Morgan Logo

2,000 rising to 2700

BT logo

2,000 employees

Tesco Bank Logo

1,500 employees

Dell Logo

1,400 employees

Esure Logo

1,000 employees

Santander Logo

1,000 employees