The solid, industrial base at the core of the region has supported the rapid growth of Leeds to become the UK's largest financial and legal centre outside London. Yet no single industry dominates the region.

Industries range from engineering to information technology; biotechnology and food to chemicals, healthcare and tourism .

Strategically located at the heart of the UK's transportation network, the Region also provides unrivalled access to a skilled workforce and over 370 million customers in Europe.
And with ten universities and over 40 colleges, the Region now produces more than 10% of the UK's graduates - over 40% qualifying in science and technology.

These are just some of the reasons why over 1500 overseas companies have chosen to operate out of the region, and why Yorkshire and Humber can boast 5 of the world's top 10 most respected companies.

As well as being a natural focus for business, the region boasts a quality of life unrivalled elsewhere in the UK.

Leeds

Leeds is the financial capital of the north and one of the fastest growing cities in the country. At the geographical centre of the UK, the city enjoys excellent transportation links and an advanced communications infrastructure, making it the perfect place to do business.
Around a third of the city's £9 billion GDP is generated by the financial and business services sectors. Together, they employ over 100,000 people. In addition to corporate financial services, some of the country's leading household names in banking and insurance services are based in the city: First Direct, GE Capital, Alliance & Leicester, Halifax Direct and Direct Line.

Service industries as a whole account for over half of total employment, including the City's largest employers: Leeds City Council (33,000); Leeds Healthcare (14,000); and in the private sector companies such as ASDA, Yorkshire Bank(all with their HQ's here); Barclays, Natwest, Midland and TSB Lloyds Banks, British Gas and British Telecom (all with their regional offices here).

Leeds remains one of the UK's principal manufacturing centres, with recognised strengths in advanced engineering, printing, chemicals and food industries. The city is also fast developing as a centre for the new, online economy. Major e-service providers such as Firstnet - voted the UK's number one internet service provider - are based in the city. Added to the mix, is an expanding media sector. Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics show the city's media, communications and advertising sector has grown by more than 20 per cent in the last two years.
As the regional centre of Yorkshire and Humber, and part of the West Yorkshire conurbation, Leeds is a major employment provider for adjacent districts. Out of a total workforce in West Yorkshire numbering 936,000, nearly half - 442,000 people -work in Leeds.
Location
Leeds Metropolitan District is 15 miles east to west and 13 miles north to south. It covers 217 square miles or 138,900 acres, of which 65% is green belt. Home to a population of about 700,000, Leeds is surrounded by an extensive suburban and rural area containing free-standing towns such as Wetherby, Rothwell, Morley and Otley and numerous small and attractive villages.

The city enjoys good motorway links being situated at the crossroads of the M1 and M62. Most of the West Yorkshire conurbation, along with Barnsley and much of Harrogate, lies within 30 minutes drive of the city. The catchment area contains a population of over 2.2 million. And the motorway network has been further improved with a link road between the M1 and the nearby A1, enhancing road connections to the North East and Scotland.

Leeds is also an important rail travel centre. British Rail has recently doubled its daily services to and from London Kings Cross. It is the terminus for the first section of the electrified East Coast main line, with the journey to London now under 2 hours. Commuting to Leeds from the West Yorkshire conurbation and beyond is swift and convenient, with an extensive network of routes.