While Staffordshire offers myriad investment opportunities for business, it also offers a long and proud heritage, incredible landscapes, rich culture, lower living costs and an ever-more-impressive skills base. The spirit of innovation has always run deep here – we get things done.
Investment here isn’t just good for business; it’s good for people. Our county offers an ideal place to work, live, learn and visit, for businesses and their families.
In Staffordshire we have it all. Rolling countryside with 154 miles of canals and watery attractions; activities and sports for all ages; and traditional market towns and characterful rural villages, all with a wealth of heritage, culture and natural attractions. Little wonder this is one of the most attractive areas of the country for families to build their future.
Average house prices are around £6,000 lower than the West Midlands or Cheshire, with a choice of country cottages and farmhouses to urban apartments and new-build communities. You’re never far from city life either, with London under an hour and a half by train and Manchester, Birmingham or Liverpool less than an hour. And there are four airports within an hour’s drive – perfect for holidays or business trips.
Staffordshire is home to half a million acres of rural rolling landscapes.
From chart-topping universities to state-of-the-art academies and outstanding schools, we’re committed to offering a bright start for young minds and dedicated qualifications for lifelong learners.
We have two respected universities, four colleges of further education, 11 independent schools and 375 secondary schools. We train over 13,000 Apprentices, and award over 5,000 MBA or post-graduate degrees every year. And we’re proud of our new JCB Academy, NSCG Stafford campus and digital tech training hubs. Not to mention the networks and partnerships in place to develop the right skills to build a brighter future for everyone.
85% of Staffordshire’s schools are rated Good or Outstanding by OFSTED
Staffordshire is packed with attractions, adventure and full-on family fun! From history to health spas, culture to nature, attractions include Alton Towers Resort, Drayton Manor Park, the SnowDome (the UK’s first indoor ski slope), Water World, Trentham Monkey Forest, Go Ape and the Peak Wildlife Park – to name but a few.
Add to that treasures such as the National Memorial Arboretum, Trentham Estate, Weston Park and visitor centres showcasing great British brands including Wedgwood, Emma Bridgewater, Moorcroft and Bass and Marston’s breweries, and you can understand why our visitor economy is booming.
Tourism is worth £1.87billion to Staffordshire’s annual economy
Undergraduate and postgrad students in our 2 universities, 5 Further Education colleges, and over 400 schools including 11 independent schools
Invested in digital technology training hubs
Investment for our 8 towns from Government Funding
Heritage attractions and historic properties
Increase in higher skills at degree level or above since 2011
“I think I have the bragging rights being born in Staffordshire. There’s nothing this fabulous county doesn’t have; from rich industrial heritage to sprawling countryside - and every day I drink my coffee from a mug made right here in the county.”
Rebecca WoodBroadcast Journalist, BBC Midlands Today