About England's Northwest
England's Northwest is a fast growing, vibrant region,
combining a dynamic business base, cosmopolitan urban centres,
breathtaking landscapes and an internationally recognised creative
and cultural scene.
It boasts Manchester, the largest media hub outside of London;
Liverpool, one of the world’s most famous waterfronts; Cheshire,
home to AstraZeneca's largest global Research & Development
premises; Lancashire a world class centre of excellence
in advanced manufacturing and engineering; and one of Europe’s
leading national parks, the Lake District.
With almost seven million inhabitants and 230,000 companies, the
Northwest is a thriving economy. It is worth a remarkable £106
billion - a tenth of the overall UK GDP. It is the UK's largest
regional economy, larger than several European countries, including
Denmark and Finland, and it is one of only three regions to
contribute positively to the UK’s balance of trade.
And it’s not just excellent for business. A huge 29% of the
region is designated as National Park or area of outstanding
beauty. The Northwest boasts the largest lakes and mountains in
England, not to mention the longest stretch of undeveloped
coastline.
These rich natural assets are part of the reason why England’s
Northwest has been voted the top location for quality of life in
the Reward Group's cost of living survey for two years on the run,
while a poll by Ipsos MORI in 2006 rated the region highly on areas
of outstanding beauty, culture and nightlife.
It is an unbeatable combination of commercial dynamism, cultural
diversity and natural beauty that is helping to make England’s
Northwest an internationally-recognised success story.
Links to Local Authorities and Other
Organisations in England's Northwest