York’s Key Business Strengths
York’s knowledge-driven economy is amongst the strongest in the UK with a solid reputation for research, development, innovation and academic excellence. Industries which are particularly well represented include biosciences, food and drink, creative, IT and digital, as well as rail, financial and professional services.
Events that have links to these business areas are extremely well placed in York.
Biosciences and Healthcare Innovation
As the UK’s founding Science City, with one of the top university bioscience departments, numerous centres of excellence and a pioneering business sector, York is emerging as a key national and European hub for Industrial biotechnology and health innovation. Hundreds of businesses in the health science and bio-analytics industries have made their home in York and the surrounding area, while research and development in bio-renewable fuel, food and drink and agricultural technologies is taking place supported by BioVale, an internationally recognised bio-economy cluster.
Creative, Digital and IT
Now a UNESCO City of Media Arts, York is leading the way in this sector, with hundreds of companies operating across media arts, ICT, electronics, software and digital industries. The city is home to many leading enterprise software companies proving software solutions to a variety of industries. More than £100 million has been invested into the city’s media arts facilities including film and TV studio space at Heslington Studios and 200,000 sq ft at The Yorkshire Studios developed by Screen Yorkshire. Cutting-edge research in the digital games and interactive media industry also takes place at the University of York based Digital Creativity Labs, a national centre of excellence leading new developments in the industry.
High-tech Rail and Related Industries
With a heritage in the railway industry dating back to the 1840’s York is home to major offices and headquarters for Network Rail, Northern Rail and Virgin Trains East Coast. Key subsectors such as advanced manufacturing of specialist parts, rail engineering and consultancy, signalling and transport software systems make up a significant innovation cluster for the industry in York.
Financial and Professional Services
York has a growing financial and professional services sector, with strengths in insurance, finance and legal and is home to major international firms such as Aviva and Hiscox.
Food and Drink
York and its surrounding area has one of the largest concentrations of food and drink producers in the UK, ranging from multi-nationals to an ever-growing number of specialist artisan makers and brewers. The birthplace of leading confectionary brands Terrys and Rowntree, York is now home to the Nestle Product Technology Centre. The region is also among the largest agricultural areas in UK, and is home to FERA Science Ltd (formerly known as the Food and Environmental Research Agency) and national government funded centres of excellence for Innovation in Livestock and Applied Crop Science.
