Jana Gibalova

From its narrow, cobbled alleys to its imposing castle, elegant Georgian townhouses and grand civic squares, there’s history around every corner in Edinburgh. The Scottish capital’s fascinating heritage and cultural attractions – including its annual international arts festival – have made it the UK’s second-most visited tourist destination after London.

Glasgow is Scotland’s largest urban centre. With world-famous cultural institutions and prime retail districts, Glasgow has the largest economy in Scotland and the third-highest GDP per capita of any city in the UK. It is without doubt an excellent location for retail businesses of every size and shape.

As the second-largest city in Yorkshire, Sheffield is part of a cluster of notable northern metropolitan cities, with Manchester to the west, Leeds to the north and Nottingham to the south. It’s also part of the Core Cities Group, a collection of 11 English cities recognised as the most economically important outside of London. 

A large, vibrant town in the North East of England, Gateshead is situated on the southern bank of the River Tyne, directly opposite the world-famous city of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is linked to Newcastle by a series of seven bridges, and is renowned for its art and modern architecture, with iconic developments such as the Sage Gateshead concert venue, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, and stunning Millennium Bridge.

Milton Keynes has one of the strongest economies in the UK, with the fifth-highest number of business start-ups per capita in the country. The 2020 Centre for Cities report even voted Milton Keynes as the best place for business outside of London. 

Liverpool has a rich and diverse heritage coupled with an incredible story of reinvention and regeneration. Its docks, which once dominated global trade in the 19th century, stood abandoned in the 1980s. Investment and imagination turned the fortunes of the city’s iconic Waterfront around, and by the late 1990s, the area had become central to city life in Liverpool once more – and the North West’s most visited free tourist attraction.

Over the last several years, Leeds has grown to become one of the country’s most important regional capitals. In the 19th century, Leeds was at the heart of the UK’s industrial machine and having suffered from the closure of these manual industries, Leeds has risen again as a key industrial hub.

The lesser-known Midlands city of Coventry is a great place for a retail business. It has fantastic transport links, thanks to its central UK location, which make it easy to manage deliveries. You may also find that properties cost slightly less to rent than those in its more well-known neighbour, Birmingham.

Manchester has been a leader in the commercial sector. With its national importance stemming back to the industrial revolution, this city has the world’s first industrial estate, Trafford Park, shaping the landscape for modern production in the UK.

Bristol is a multicultural maritime city that buzzes with innovation and creativity. From Brunel’s landmark Clifton Suspension Bridge to Banksy’s satirical street art, plus a dazzling array of shopping experiences from big names to bijou independents, you’ll find this South West metropolis has lots going for it.

One of the UK’s largest cities, Birmingham has a rich commercial heritage. At the heart of Britain’s industrial revolution, it has long been a centre of wealth and commerce, and while many of the industries that powered Birmingham’s growth have declined, the city has resurfaced in recent years thanks to major regeneration projects.

Until recently, the UK’s life sciences sector was seen to be lagging behind. Its challenges were threefold: a lack of data, a lack of expertise and a lack of suitable investment opportunities. Now though, with life sciences regularly on the agenda for government and investors, there are opportunities for the UK to take steps towards establishing itself as a global leader.

London is one of the fashion capitals of the world. So, it is little wonder that it is home to some of the best retail destinations in the UK, if not the whole of Europe. That’s not all. London is also well known for its department stores, from Selfridges to Liberty to Fortnum & Mason, which bring prestige to the capital’s retail sector.

Incredibly lively, diverse, and a notable centre for higher education, Glasgow is a textbook example of a modern industrial and business hub, risen from the remnants of a world famous traditional industrial powerhouse. Potential for future growth and development is huge.

Edinburgh has the strongest economy outside of London, and although city centre space has become limited – a victim of the city’s success – the out-of-town industrial park sector has grown dramatically.

As the second largest city in Yorkshire, Sheffield is uniquely placed in its proximity to other large, metropolitan cities in the north of England. With Manchester to the west, Leeds to the north and Nottingham to the south, its ideally located for businesses to capitalise on access to custom in every direction.

Gateshead is known as a northern economic powerhouse, continuing its growth trajectory, with a focus on cutting-edge industry and innovation. Its location in the North East of England is another big draw for businesses. North East England is one of the UK’s fastest growing economies with a highly skilled, flexible workforce, great connections to global markets and a low cost base.

Over the past few years, the term ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ (DEI) has become a widely used buzzword in the business world, with countless corporate websites touting their commitment to building diverse teams and inclusive cultures. How has the real estate industry fared when it comes to incorporating DEI into the workplace, and how far do we still need to go?

Milton Keynes was voted as the best place for business outside of London, according to a 2020 Centre for Cities report. This, combined with its fantastic transport links, an advanced supply chain, and a highly skilled workforce helps high-value businesses in industrial sectors to thrive.

With its fantastic transport links, solid infrastructure and a highly skilled workforce, Liverpool is enjoying a surge in demand for industrial and distribution space. It was also voted as one of the best cities in the UK for work-life balance due to its cosmopolitan atmosphere, good employment opportunities, and friendly people.

Over the past year, it has been almost impossible to open a newspaper or read an article online without encountering something dealing with the topic of ESG. ESG has become the green buzzword of modern times standing for ‘Environmental’, ‘Social’ and ‘Governance’. Together, the acronym summarises an agenda that will have a major impact on the real estate industry both now and in the future.

Steeped in the history of its industrial past, Leeds is undergoing a renewed renaissance in its importance to the modern UK economy. With plenty of logistics space available at competitive prices, Leeds is once again at the heart of the UK’s industrial sector.

One of the largest cities in the UK, Coventry was a vitally important city throughout the UK’s industrial age. A centre of production for the early watch and bicycle manufacturing industries, the city was best known as a major hub for the British motor industry, with vehicle companies retaining strong links with sites in and around Coventry.

Bristol has grown into a rounded centre of commerce and the spotlight has moved a little. Now, the city is known as a centre of aerospace, automotive and engineering excellence. Bristol and the surrounding areas are also rich in natural resources, with several key quarries still found in the South West.

Over the course of the last two years, a lot has changed for the big six regional markets of Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Bristol. As businesses move away from having one HQ and explore regional, hub-and-spoke premises for their business, the future looks bright for the office market outside of London.