World famous for its heritage sites and cultural scene which contribute to 7.2m domestic and international visitors to the district each year, Canterbury is growing a reputation as a hotspot for innovative businesses.
Here’s Locate in Kent’s summary of reasons to consider Canterbury as a business location:
- Canterbury is home to 5,700 businesses. This number is on the rise and the Start-Up Cities Index 2017 named Canterbury as among the UK’s top 25 locations to start a business.
- The area’s economy is currently worth £3 billion, with 60,000 people employed in the district.
- Kent’s first medical school is set to open in the City, following a bid for funding by Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Kent. It will bring together the existing centres of excellence in health and medical education.
- Canterbury’s reputation for science, technology and innovation is growing, attracted by fast broadband, its strategic position between London and Europe, and an explosion of digitally focused companies.
- Canterbury City Council, Kent County Council and private sector developers, have together enabled significant improvements to the district in recent years – three major new road projects totalling £70m of upcoming investment including the new £30m Sturry Link Road.
- Around £320m of infrastructure investment will be made leading up to 2031 making this an exciting growth phase for the district. Significant commercial sites either underway or in the pipeline include Mountfield Park (Canterbury), Altira Business Park/Hillborough (Herne Bay) and Hoplands Farm (Hersden).
- 16,000 new homes will be built to house an anticipated 17,000 new employees from jobs being created across a range of sectors. Community facilities, education and leisure provision will be included.
- Property prices average £343,890. There is a wide choice, from historic city centre homes to newer developments being built in the surrounding villages and the coastal towns of Whitstable and Herne Bay.
- A highly qualified working population is another district strength – nearly half of employees are educated to degree level or above. Up to 10,000 new graduates and postgraduates leave the city’s four universities every year.
- Canterbury Christ Church University’s EDGE (Engineering, Design, Growth and Enterprise Hub) facility will support high-value employment, growth and investment in engineering and technology businesses. Set to be worth up to an estimated £11m a year to the Kent and Medway economy this engineering hub will aim to bring graduates with high level engineering and technology skills into the labour market.
- Crown Products, ICOM UK, accountants Kreston Reeves, commercial developer George Wilson Holdings and software developer Bludel are some of the district’s success stories.
To find out more about Canterbury as a business location and local investment opportunities, contact Canterbury City Council’s Property and Regeneration team on 01227 862530 or business@canterbury.gov.uk.
