City Spotlight: A Quick Guide to Franchising in Nottingham
Alice Tuffery, writer
Published at 13/03/2021, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 5 min
Nottingham is famous for its Sherwood Forest, the home of Robin Hood, but today the city has a thriving business landscape. Here’s why you should seriously consider franchising in Nottingham if you’re keen to launch your own business.
Situated in central England, Nottingham is well placed to access a large population of skilled workers and business customers. It has convenient transport links to neighbouring towns and cities, and already attracted an impressive number of big-name companies.
Nottingham has an impressive history behind it, and seen numerous breakthroughs over the centuries. It’s been home to William Lee, inventor of the knitting machine, and Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer, as well as author D.H. Lawrence and fashion designer Paul Smith. Plus, Nottingham is the birthplace of the pharmacy chain Boots, Raleigh bikes, the MRI scanner and HP brown sauce.
An overview of Nottingham
Around 1.2 million people live in Nottingham, including more than 60,000 students across the city’s two universities. The population has an average age of 40.1, slightly lower than the figure across England and Wales, which sits at 40.3. This statistic means 63.3 percent of the city’s residents are of working age, between 16 and 64, one percent more than across England and Wales.
Average salaries across the Nottingham area vary by almost £10,000. Workers in Mansfield can expect to make around £28,600, while those in Rushcliffe tend to be better off, earning £37,000. These numbers are below the UK average of £38,600.
While Nottingham’s earning figures are lower than elsewhere, houses are more affordable. Buyers on average pay £206,000, while the typical house in England and Wales as a whole sells for £314,000 - over £100,000 more.
Did you know? More than six in 10 Nottingham-based jobs are in knowledge-intensive industries.
Nottingham is also well connected to other UK regions. In fact, you can drive to just under 90 percent of locations in England and Wales in less than four hours.
Meanwhile, more than 70 trains travel directly from Nottingham to London St Pancras every day, and you can get to the capital in an hour and 40 minutes. By taking the Eurostar at the other end, you can easily access European destinations too.
The East Midlands Airport offers useful transport links to cities across the globe. It’s also the busiest pure cargo airport and centre for DHL and UPS in the UK, so it’s convenient for businesses using postal services.
>> Read more:
- Franchising 101: The Official Franchise Start Up Checklist (Part 1)
- Franchising 101: The Official Franchise Start Up Checklist (Part 2)
- New Year, New Career: No Better Time Than Now to Start a Franchise Today
- Franchising 101: 8 Signs You're Ready to Start a Franchise
- Starting a New Business Doesn't Always Lead to Immediate Success: Here Are 5 Ways to Change That
- It's Never Too Late to Start a New Business
Running your own business in Nottingham
Nottingham has demonstrated its status as a city with valuable assets and facilities, which is why it has attracted major companies including Experian, Speedo and Capital One. Here are some of the sectors thriving in the city; if you’re considering franchising in Nottingham, these industries could offer fantastic potential:
Creative and digital - Across the city, there are more than 29,000 students working in creative and digital fields, and Nottingham’s universities run several business hubs supporting new start-ups and ambitious entrepreneurs. The sector also benefits from the Creative Quarter, which has offices and co-working spaces, as well as an array of established independent shops, restaurants and bars.
Life sciences - The birthplace of Ibuprofen and the MRI scanner, Nottingham has specialisms in medical devices, biotechnology and healthcare. The two universities also carry out work in cancer research, child health and clinical neurosciences, supported by organisations like Medilink East Midlands and BioCity Nottingham. Across the life sciences sector, there’s a working population of over 91,000 people.
Advanced manufacturing - Nottingham’s advanced manufacturing sector has a 114,000-strong workforce across areas including electronics, aerospace, transport and food and drink. The city’s universities have established partnerships and research facilities to aid the advancement of technologies such as 3D printing and polymer composites. And companies Rolls Royce, Midlands Aerospace and Greene Tweed have all set up facilities in the region.
Financial and business services - This sector employs more than 126,000 people in Nottingham, and its strength is demonstrated by the high-profile brands based in the area. KPMG and Deloitte have offices in the city, as well as Experian, Vodafone, E.On, Specsavers and HMRC. In fact, many people view Nottingham as the administrative hub of the East Midlands.
>> Read more:
- 5 Qualities of a Successful Franchisor
- 4 Things Franchisees Never Have Time for But Are Essential for Running a Successful Business
- How to Launch a Franchise and Get Noticed
- 4 Elements of a Successful Franchise
- How to Start a New Business on a Shoe-String Budget
- The Ultimate Guide to Franchising Success
Logistics - Situated in the heart of England, Nottingham is a convenient location for logistics companies; over 41,000 people there work in the sector. Vans and lorries can get to 89 percent of England and Wales within four hours and reach other key cities via major roads. The M1 passes Leicester, Sheffield and Leeds, and the A1 stretches from London to Edinburgh via Newcastle. Plus, the East Midlands Airport and other transport terminals are nearby.
Food and drink - Nottingham has a healthy population of cafes and restaurants, but also pioneers ground-breaking work in crop and animal production and food manufacturing. Initiatives led by the Food and Drink Forum have helped the sector access tens of millions of pounds in funding. The city also welcomed the UK's first food and drink manufacturing site, Southglade Food Park.
Franchising in Nottingham
If you decide to start running your own business in Nottingham, you’ll have plenty of useful facilities and business support opportunities at your fingertips. The annual National Franchise Exhibition is usually held at the NEC in Birmingham, just an hour’s drive away, where you can access professional advice and networking sessions.
While you’re in the city, you can also join events run by Love Business East Midlands and take inspiration from the many experts who speak at Nottingham City Business Club.
So, what franchises are there in Nottingham? Take a look at our full list of available franchise opportunities in the city; you’ll find openings in a wide range of different sectors.
*Statistics taken from Plumplot.co.uk and InvestInNottingham.com
Alice Tuffery, writer