Set Up In Solihull
Solihull is a diverse local authority just south-east of Birmingham bustling with prime locations for inward investment, and supported by strong digital and professional sectors. Solihull has a business survival rate of 51.4%, higher than Manchester and some parts of London, and the UK Central zone is home to vibrant hubs of industry including Birmingham Business Park and Jaguar Land Rover Solihull.
The fifth largest economy in the UK outside of London and the South, Solihull is home to major assets including the National Exhibition Centre and transport links including Birmingham Airport, drawing international crowds to its doorstep. The £3.2 billion Arden Cross development represents one of the area’s major investment opportunities. A connected, modern Solihull is now a forward-thinking region with innovation in mind.
Solihull’s Sector Strengths
As Solihull has one of the highest concentration of jobs in the UK, 110,928 people working in the borough alone, it comes to little surprise that the local authority has a proven track record of economic success.
The area has a reputation for harbouring a credible BPFS ecosystem, globally recognisable consumer facing brands including Gymshark, and is eager to develop and engage with Low Carbon and Life Sciences investment to broaden its remit. Solihull has also been a key participant in the construction of HS2.
Solihull’s planned regeneration of its town centre, and beyond, is focused on innovation. The £3.2 billion Arden Cross development project, facilitated by the HS2 Interchange Station, aims to have a HealthTech campus at its heart. The project will also deliver over 5 million square metres of ultra-connected office space, 3,000 new homes and up to 27,000 jobs. Other opportunities in the area include two business parks, and office space within the town centre.
Solihull offers incentives not only to investors, but for businesses making their next move one that lands right here, in the West Midlands.
Connectivity
Solihull’s strategic position alongside an international airport, major rail connections and the national motorway network is one of its key strengths. 82.9% of the UK’s population is within a 4 hour drive from the West Midlands, and Birmingham Airport (BHX), an 11 minute drive from Solihull, flies to 155 destinations directly.
Solihull’s connectivity doesn’t only cover distance. With JLR based in the region, and West Midlands based universities 30 minutes away, Solihull has the capacity to let businesses connect with the people that can help them with their next breakthrough.
Quality of Life
Solihull’s residents are thriving in the West Midlands. The authorities’ population grew by 4.6% between 2013 – 2023, and has the 2nd highest life expectancy in the entirety of the West Midlands. When combined with wider West Midlands figures, the quality of life on offer here becomes even clearer:
- 319 schools in the West Midlands ranked ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, accessible from Solihull.
- 66% of residents are within walking distance of a train station
- 7.0 home affordability ratio, lower than the national average
