Business News Round Up (19/10/2021)
Edinburgh second only to London for business start-ups
Edinburgh is second only to London in the UK when it comes to the most attractive cities to set up a new business, according to a new report out today. Scotland’s capital is ranked higher than cities including Manchester and Leeds when it comes to establishing ‘high growth’ companies – 45% of which were found to be in the tech sector. The rating came from the ‘Unlocking Growth’ report produced by Barclays Eagle Labs and Beauhurst exploring the importance of public and private sector partnerships in creating strong local technology ecosystems in which businesses can start and scale successfully. It looked at the role of universities, accelerator programmes and business incubators, coupled with investment sources such as angel or private equity investors. The report looks at the critical role technology ecosystems play in supporting high-growth firms and boosting local economies. Local authority areas that are home to 100 or more high-growth companies have an average Gross Value Added (GVA) per person of £138,000, compared to £22,000 for those with less than 100. According to the data, Edinburgh has 621 high growth businesses, with 280 of those in the tech sector.
Foreign investment deals to create 30,000 UK jobs, says government
Foreign investment deals in low-carbon sectors in the UK to be announced on Tuesday will create about 30,000 jobs, the government has said. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce 18 new deals worth £9.7bn as he opens a global investment summit. They include investments in sectors such as wind and hydrogen energy, sustainable homes, and carbon capture. The prime minister said investors had recognised “the massive potential in the UK for growth and innovation”. Investments from companies such as Spanish energy firm Iberdrola, logistics firm Prologis and grocery service Getir would power the UK’s economic recovery and help to achieve the government’s levelling up agenda, he added. Mr Johnson will open the Global Investment Summit in London on Tuesday, bringing together more than 200 business executives.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58959061
Manchester is England’s top city outside of London to start a business, major report reveals
Manchester is England’s top city outside of London in which to start a business, a major new survey has revealed. A new report out today from Barclays Eagle Labs and Beauhurst lists the top UK cities for the number of high-growth businesses outside of the capital, with the North West city coming second to only Edinburgh. The ‘Unlocking Growth’ report aimed to identify the key to generating growth by exploring the importance of public and private sector partnerships in creating strong local technology ecosystems in which businesses can start and scale successfully. That was alongside universities, accelerator programmes and business incubators, coupled with investment sources such as angel or private equity investors. Manchester came second in the list for the number of high-growth businesses outside of London, with 508 calling the city home – 209 of which were tech companies.
https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/manchester-englands-top-city-outside-21889035
Scottish retail investments sees strongest quarter since 2018
Scottish retail investment has seen its strongest quarter since 2018, fuelled by demand for retail warehouses, according to new research. It also found that commercial property investment volumes across Scotland have slowed during the last quarter. The new research by Colliers’ Scotland said that the resurgence of Covid-19 cases and school summer holidays led to a suppression in deal activity. Colliers’ Scotland third quarter snapshot reports a drop in transactions across all sectors, except for retail warehouses, with a total £360m invested in the last quarter, down from £600m in quarter two. It was 33% above 2020 levels, this is around 7% below the corresponding five-year average. Offices and retail accounted for the largest overall shares by value, with £170m transacted in each segment. The retail investment sector experienced its strongest quarter since 2018, and was more than twice the five-year quarterly average, with total investments of £153m. Demand for out-of-town retail warehouses was strong.
https://www.insider.co.uk/news/scottish-retail-investments-sees-strongest-25246155