Why Bradford?
We are on a journey to create a new future for one of the UK’s largest cities
Bradford is one of the UK’s biggest urban centres, with more than 563,000 residents and the fifth largest population when compared with England’s Core Cities. Over the past decade, Bradford’s economy has grown at the same speed as the Core Cities average.
Driven by seven major, game changing projects (of which Southern Gateway is one), the District is now set up for faster growth. Becoming a Core City is a realistic next step and a powerful way to draw in more investment, back innovation, and grow higher-value jobs. The District’s diversity, energy, and northern location, combined with its global reach and international outlook, give it a strong platform to play a bigger role in the UK economy.
Bradford is a District of real scale. Half a million people, a £12 billion economy. Driven by one of the youngest populations in the country (with 28% of the population aged under 20) and has the depth to play a bigger role in national growth. Larger than Liverpool and nearly twice the size of Newcastle, Bradford combines scale with momentum.
A broad based economy builds on real strengths. Advanced manufacturing, financial and business services, and food and drink continue to perform strongly, alongside growing digital and clean energy activity.
Bradford is home to over 16,600 businesses employing around 250,000 people across the UK with a combined turnover of over £35 billion. The district has a number of large headquarters including the grocery giant Morrisons, Yorkshire Water, Hallmark Cards, Vanquis, and Yorkshire Building Society. We also have thriving sectors in space and satellite technologies, advanced engineering, film and television, and food production.
Bradford has been identified as the best place in Britain to start a business, as ranked by Barclays Bank SME Growth Factors Index and was listed as one of the top 20 cities for business growth by the Sunday Times in 2020.
Through its Regeneration and Growth Plan, Bradford is positioning itself as a leading UK city building on its strengths in culture, innovation, and enterprise to play a bigger role in regional and national growth.
Within a 5km radius of
Southern Gateway:
