Birmingham is a city of one million people with one of the youngest and most diverse populations in the country. Over the last thirty years Birmingham’s economy has been transformed from one reliant on manufacturing to one with more focus on business and professional services and the visitor economy, including tourism, conferencing, hospitality, leisure and retailing.

Despite the recession, major redevelopment is still occurring in the city, including the redevelopment of New Street Station, the creation of a brand new Library of Birmingham; redevelopment of the 140 hectare site of the former MG Rover factory at Longbridge and the multi-billion pound regeneration of Eastside, which aims to stretch the city core eastwards and create thousands of jobs. Over 30,000 businesses are based in Birmingham, employing around 470,000 people.

Total Population: 1,028,700
Gross Value Added: 19,566
Total Jobs: 506,700
Skills (% of population aged 16-64 with NVQ1+ / other qualifications): 79.4%
Knowledge intensive employment: 24.7%

Website: www.birmingham.gov.uk

Bromsgrove district is situated in north Worcestershire and covers approximately 21,714 hectares. Although located only 14 miles from the centre of Birmingham, the district is predominately rural with approximately 91% of the land designated Green Belt. It has a resident population of 92,300.

Bromsgrove enjoys a central location and good access north and south. It has excellent transport links, including three motorways and easy access to Birmingham Airport. Once a prosperous hub for the woollen trade, Bromsgrove became the world centre for nailmaking in the 19th century and more recently won prominence for engineering and the motor industry. Today it boasts a skilled workforce with excellent business support and development infrastructure.

Total Population: 93,400
Gross Value Added: 1,287.1
Total Jobs: 36,500
Skills (% of population aged 16-64 with NVQ1+ / other qualifications): 83.3%
Knowledge intensive employment: 14.7%

Website: www.bromsgrove.gov.uk

Cannock Chase covers a large part of Cannock Chase forest and the towns of Cannock, Rugeley and Hednesford. At the heart of the district lies the majestic woodlands, valleys and heathlands of Cannock Chase, an internationally acclaimed Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Over 1.5 million people visit the Chase every year.

Cannock Chase is the smallest mainland AONB in England and Wales at 68 sq km. Along with its beautiful landscape, it has important and unusual wildlife. Extensive areas of the Chase were used for military training and army encampments for World Wars I and II.

Total Population: 94,500
Gross Value Added: 1282.2
Total Jobs: 37,500
Skills (% of population aged 16-64 with NVQ1+ / other qualifications): 84.8%
Knowledge intensive employment: 9.8%

Website: www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk

The borough of East Staffordshire covers a predominantly rural land area with many villages and the two main towns of Burton upon Trent and Uttoxeter in which almost three-quarters of the population live. It has a population of around 107,700.

With a robust and diverse grounding, East Staffordshire has an established manufacturing industry that encompasses automotive components, food and drink, mechanical engineering and rubber and plastics. Manufacturing remains a crucial industrial sector within the borough, with over one fifth of East Staffordshire employees, although it is no longer the largest sector. Almost one quarter of employees work in the distribution, hotels and restaurant sector, now making it the largest sector in terms of employee numbers within the borough.

Total Population: 108,800
Gross Value Added: 2,056.6
Total Jobs: 58,000
Skills (% of population aged 16-64 with NVQ1+ / other qualifications): 88.3%
Knowledge intensive employment: 15.5%

Website: www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk

Lichfield is a city steeped in heritage that ranges from the adventure of Drayton Manor to the serenity of the National Memorial Arboretum. Lichfield is notable for its three-spired cathedral and as the birthplace of Samuel Johnson, the writer of the first authoritative dictionary of the English language. In July 2009 the Staffordshire Hoard, the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found in Britain, was discovered in a field five miles from Lichfield. The town of Burntwood also makes up a major part of the Lichfield district.

Today there are a number of light industrial areas predominantly in the east of the city, not dominated by any one particular industry. The district is famous for two local products: Armitage Shanks, manufacturers of baths/bidets and showers, and Arthur Price of England, master cutlers and silversmiths.

Total Population: 98,300
Gross Value Added: 1,480.8
Skills (% of population aged 16-64 with NVQ1+ / other qualifications): 93.5%
Knowledge intensive employment: 14.4%

Website: www.lichfielddc.gov.uk

The borough of Redditch is in Worcestershire and close to Birmingham together with its major train station and international airport. Redditch benefits from having a variety of businesses of all sizes in a wide range of business sectors; from spring manufacturing to aerospace, printing, automotive and telecommunciations.

Redditch is home to one of the first indoor shopping malls in the country, serving around 200,000 visitors each week. The Kingfisher Shopping Centre, well known for its large mosaic panels designed by famous Scottish artist and sculptor Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, has over 1,100,000 square feet of retail space, making it one of the largest covered shopping centres in the UK.

Total Population: 78,700
Gross Value Added: 1,434.7
Total Jobs: 42,600
Skills (% of population aged 16-64 with NVQ1+ / other qualifications): 86.2%
Knowledge intensive employment: 18.3%

Website: www.redditch.whub.org.uk

Solihull is located in the geographical centre of the country, marked by a stone cross on Meriden village green. From busy shopping malls to traditional farmers’ markets, Solihull offers a whole range of shopping experiences, such as Mell Square and Touchwood featuring John Lewis.

Solihull is served by superb road, rail and air links and is home to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), which attracts over four million visitors each year and is located next to Birmingham Airport and Birmingham International Railway Station. The borough has some of the major employers and employment sites and is home to Jaguar Land Rover as well as Birmingham Business Park, Monkspath Business Park and Blythe Valley Business Park, Solihull’s own ‘Silicon Valley’.

Total Population: 205,200
Gross Value Added: 3,858.2
Total Jobs: 107,000
Skills (% of population aged 16-64 with NVQ1+ / other qualifications): 79.4%
Knowledge intensive employment: 88.8%

Website: www.solihull.gov.uk

Tamworth is located in the south eastern corner of Staffordshire, just to the north of Birmingham with access to the extensive motorway and trunk road network and excellent rail communications. It is close to the two international airports located in the Midlands and boasts the first indoor real snow ski slope in Europe. Tamworth has a resident population of around 74,500 featuring a very young population structure with an average age under 36.

In terms of output, financial and business services, distribution and transport and communications are all important. Tamworth’s strong manufacturing base means that it is still a very important sector in terms of jobs.

The town is steeped in history, which can be traced back to Saxon times when it was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Mercia. Sir Robert Peel is one of its most famous sons, MP for the town as well as a former Prime Minister. He founded the police force (hence the term “bobby”) and delivered his famous “Tamworth Manifesto” from the Town Hall.

Total Population: 75,700
Gross Value Added: 1,060.6
Total Jobs: 34,000
Skills (% of population aged 16-64 with NVQ1+ / other qualifications): 78.9%
Knowledge intensive employment: 12.6%

Website: www.tamworth.gov.uk/

Wyre Forest District is centrally located in the UK, approximately 17 miles south west of Birmingham, covering 19,571 hectares and lying in the heart of beautiful and varied countryside.

The area takes its name from The Forest of Wyre, once a medieval hunting forest, now a popular visitor attraction. It enjoys a central location with easy access to the motorway and mainline rail networks as well as having Birmingham Airport on its doorstep.

Kidderminster is the largest of the three towns in the district and the main centre for industry and commerce. It is famous for the design and manufacture of quality carpets and the birthplace of Sir Rowland Hill – founder of the Penny Post. Stourport-on-Severn and Bewdley are the district’s other towns.

Total Population: 98,100
Gross Value Added: 1,285.5
Total Jobs: 36,500
Skills (% of population aged 16-64 with NVQ1+ / other qualifications): 83.3%
Knowledge intensive employment: 11.5%

Website: www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk